Steve Coogan's critically acclaimed drama Brian and Maggie is available to stream for free right now. While Coogan's new series Legends continues to impress over on Netflix, still hanging around the top of the streamer's top 10 shows chart a month after premiering, this 2025 title by the veteran comedian/actor is one to watch.
Mostly set in 1989, Brian and Maggie sees Coogan play Labour MP turned journalist Brian Walden, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Margaret Thatcher, played by Succession and Ted Lasso's Harriet Walter.
The show focuses on her final television interview during her time as Prime Minister, and how it threatens to ruin their long-standing bond.
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Behind the camera, the show was written by James Graham, the man behind the BBC's Sherwood, and directed by The Queen and A Very English Scandal's Stephen Frears.
Channel 4 premiered Brian and Maggie at the start of 2025, and it remains on the broadcaster's streaming service to watch for free with ads.
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It's only two episodes long, running 45 minutes each – plus the adverts, unless you pay for the ad-free Channel 4+ option at £3.99/month or £39.99/year.
Unsurprisingly, given the talent involved, the mini-series was a big hit with critics, sitting at 100% positive on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Watching this makes you nostalgic for a time when programmes such as his were appointment-to-view television, journalists were forensic but respectful, and politicians could do more than trot out spin-doctored soundbites."
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"Coogan and Walter make for a captivating double act," wrote The Standard, calling both lead actors experts at playing real-life characters, while also praising the "effective" supporting cast.
The review also reads: "The show is wonderful to look at, a real '80s throwback, all lovely clunky fonts and clunky furniture and clunky phones."
The Hollywood Reporter echoed the praise for Coogan and Walter, and also stated that the show is made "more interesting by its acknowledgment that the good old days weren’t always so perfect and straightforward".
Brian and Maggie can be streamed now on Channel 4.
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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.
