Coogan admits editing show so he didn't look sympathetic to Thatcher

LEFT-WING actor Steve Coogan said he cut out lines in his latest political docu-drama because he did not want to appear too sympathetic to Margaret Thatcher.

- Chloe Govan

Steve felt the original scene in Brian and Maggie made his character, journalist Brian Walden, seem overly admiring of the former Conservative PM.

So he stepped in and adjusted writer James Graham's script to ensure it had the right "balance".

The two-part Channel 4 show dramatises Walden's friendship-breaking interview with Mrs Thatcher that originally aired on October 29, 1989. Thirteen months later, the Iron Lady was toppled from power by her own Cabinet.

Steve, 59, defended his script editing at a screening of Brian and Maggie.