Having lived through these events and was at the time a fan of the political interviewer Brian Walden I was interested to see for myself Channel 4s drama. Directed by Stephen Frears with a screenplay by James Graham, the odd interest in the demise of Thatcher continues.
Walden didn't bring down Margaret Thatcher, the responsibility for that lies wholly with herself. He did however, hammer in one of the many nails into her coffin. The two part series is made all the more tasty because they had been friends and this is developed by Frears to give context to the events that led to the famous, fateful TV interview.
Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter play the leads and Coogan struggles with Walden's persona, looks and accent. At times he simply comes across as... Steve Coogan. There is little about Walden's time as a Labour MP despite the fact that early in his career he was seen as a potential cabinet minister or even leader. As the 1970s progressed he turned into a maverick before leaving to work as a TV interviewer.
Harriet Walter is the latest amongst several actresses to play Thatcher. Despite being older than the former Prime Minister was in1989 her performance might just be the finest so far. She gets the two big issues for all actresses playing the part right-that of Thatcher's public and private persona. This is the key to trying to understanding Margaret Thatcher. Most biographies and accounts point to this personality split. Was the Iron-Lady really a kitten when she was off-duty?
Well, Frears and Graham don't exactly put her into that box, but in the two part series best scene she invites Walden for a cosey drink in her private rooms in Downing Street. We see a very different Margaret, shoes off, lounging on a couch drinking whisky with big eyes for her favourite TV man across the coffee table. She and Walden get close, at least as friends as they build a kind of blood-brothers pact between each other.
Was this merely a professional relationship of politician and journalist, or was there something more? As time passes during Thatcher's tenure the relationship pans out as purely professional as we move towards 1989. Her fall was slow in coming, but inevitable. The 'interview' was well anticipated, as political interviews were at that time, Walden being the master interviewer up against the usually superb Thatcher. Walden goes straight for the jugular and doesn't let his prey off the ropes. I remember the shock this caused at the time; was this really Margaret Thatcher? She fights back but the fatal wound had been inflicted.
As they say, the rest is history. Perhaps the final word comes from the Prime Minister as she looks into the mirror, realising that the game was up...'Betrayal.'
