Interview with James Graham (Writer & Creator)

Category: Press Pack Article

How did you originally get involved in Brian and Maggie?

Steve Coogan emailed me! Which was always a thrilling thing, I've admired his work for so long. We'd met once or twice and shared a love of strange pockets of post-war British history. And Steve thought maybe I'd be interested in taking a look at this particular nugget.

 

Why was this project something you wanted to cover?

I hadn't come across this interview before (to my shame, as a politics and history nerd!). But I've long been angst-ing about the health of political conversation and national discourse. I did a play called Best of Enemies a couple years back, on the origins of 'combative' TV debates in America in the 1960s. Margaret Thatcher looms large in my psyche too, coming from a post-industrial town where her legacy has been constantly interrogated.

 

What were the main challenges when writing this project?

As ever with historical dramas, it’s how you make the inevitable not seem inevitable. To remember and remind an audience that had certain human beings made different choices, then history may have been a little different... Also how you make an interview that features the European Exchange Rate Mechanism and monetarism sound like a symphony. Which - thanks to Brian and Maggie - it is. I find their exchange mesmeric - because of what they're "doing" to one another, underneath the words.

 

Had you read Rob Burley’s book that the project is based on, before getting involved in the series?

I read Rob's book before speaking properly to Steve, about what the drama could be. It's great - a humorous, and human, deep dive into the importance of the TV political interview as a democratic instrument. Which sounds dry but its riveting. It makes you realise what a crisis we're in, given the tone and timbre of the modern platforms where we 'engage' with one another, politically.

 

Did you do any further research into the real-life Brian and Maggie?

Of course! We had the great privilege of interviewing those who has worked at Weekend World with Brian - the "pointy heads" as they were called. And I spoke to those who had known Margaret too.

 

Margaret Thatcher has been portrayed in many TV series and films. What makes Harriet’s performance different?

This is Margaret as seen through an intimate relationship that I think many audiences won't be aware of. A strange and complicated relationship between a leader and a journalist meant to hold her to account, but many boundaries were crossed. Harriet is simply one of our greatest actors. She had no desire just to "give her Thatcher", it had to be a jaunty and different way in. Here's a part of Maggie's story where - arguable, some think - she was vulnerable, and had the rug pulled out from under her. Which is a rare thing to witness for the Iron Lady.

 

If you had to describe this show in 3 words, what would they be?

Oddly urgent. Charming.