Actor Steve Coogan is no stranger to , but his recent comments on during a interview have ignited a fresh wave of controversy.
Speaking about his role as journalist Brian Walden in the upcoming drama , Coogan shared his candid views on Thatcher’s legacy—and not everyone was impressed.
Brian and Maggie, directed by Stephen Frears and written by James Graham, chronicles the final televised interview between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and journalist in 1989.
The interview came during a tumultuous period in Thatcher’s leadership, as her party began to turn against her.
Coogan described the drama as a tale of loyalty and betrayal, saying: “The story—the Brian and Maggie story—is ultimately about, through his friendship, [Brian] comes to a point where he has to choose between doing his journalistic duty and looking after his friend.
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Steve Coogan has shared his opinions on Margaret Thatcher (Image: BBC)
“When she was on the ropes towards the end of her leadership… he decided to choose journalism over his friendship.”
Reflecting on the political climate of the time, Coogan noted: “She is sometimes deified by the Conservative party, but people forget that they were the ones who got rid of her… The huge Thatcherite experiment, 30 years later, lots of people can argue that a few people benefited from it, but society at large was damaged by it.
“In fact, there’s a line in the drama that says, ‘We used to have communities, now we just have stuff.’”
While some Breakfast audience members appreciated Coogan’s insights on the drama’s themes, his personal critique of Thatcher sparked significant backlash online.
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The actor is playing a journalist who came up against Thatcher towards the end of her career (Image: BBC Breakfast)
Viewers accused him of using the interview as a platform to air his political opinions.
One person hit out: “Coogan, another celebrity socialist hypocrite… despised Thatcher but conveniently forgets she helped him amass his wealth… still does.”
Another added: “Coogan uses interview for his self again, talking rubbish.”
A third complained: “Classic opportunity for the Beeb to platform an extremist Thatcher hater celeb. Entirely expected. However, Brian Walden was a superb journalist, unlike todays approved and ‘verified’ narrative merchants.”
Brian and Maggie airs Wednesday (January 29) at 9pm on Channel 4.