How do you solve a problem like Margaret Thatcher?
February 3, 2025
28 min
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1,076 of 1,433
February 3, 2025
How do you solve a problem like Margaret Thatcher?
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The New Statesman Episodes Around February 3, 2025
Episode 1,076 of 1,433 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
28:05This episodeHow do you solve a problem like Margaret Thatcher?
Summary
<p>In 1989, following the shock resignation of the chancellor, Nigel Lawson, Margaret Thatcher sat down with veteran broadcaster, friend, and former Labour MP Brian Walden for a 45 minute interview. It was a disastrous encounter for Thatcher, that ultimately spelled the beginning of the end of her 10 years in power – a year later she resigned.</p><br /><p>The story behind this is told by Rob Burley in his book <em>Why is this Lying Bastard Lying to Me? Searching for the Truth on Political TV </em>– which has now been adapted into a two part dramatisation, Brian and Maggie, starring Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter. The show raises bigger questions, too: why does the political interview matter? And how do you solve the riddle of Margaret Thatcher on screen?</p><br /><p>Tom Gatti is joined by TV producer and editor Rob Burley, and the New Statesman’s TV critic - Rachel Cooke.</p><br /><p>Read: <a href="http://newstatesman.com/culture/tv/2025/01/the-riddle-of-margaret-thatcher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rachel Cooke's review</a></p><br /><p><strong>LISTEN AD-FREE:</strong></p><p>📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download the New Statesman app</a></p><br /><p><strong>MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:</strong></p><p>❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> – we answer them every Friday</p><p>⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> every morning</p><p>✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday</p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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