Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher's life to be shared in explosive TV biopic

26 December 2023 , 12:49

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Filming for Baroness Thatcher's biopic is yet to start (Image: David Levenson/Getty Images)

Margaret Thatcher's life will soon play out on screens to fill the void of The Crown.

The divisive Iron Lady who sparked controversy throughout her time as Prime Minister has already had films made about her but a new biopic is in the works. Baroness Thatcher died in April 2013 aged 87 at The Ritz Hotel in London after suffering a stroke.

But the big budget production is yet to kick off, with filming set to start next year, with casting also yet to commence. However, reports indicate that the show could air on BBC or ITV. The team behind the production is also responsible for the likes of Victoria and Poldark.

Margaret Thatcher's life is set to be played out in a new biopic (Corbis via Getty Images)

"This is destined to be a particularly glossy show which already has acclaimed creatives attached," a source said. They went on to tell The Sun: "The Crown showed a real fascination among viewers with statecraft — the management of public affairs — in which Maggie was an expert.

"It devoted an entire series to the Thatcher years, with Gillian Anderson playing the PM, and they turned out to be some of its most popular episodes." During her time in office, Baroness Thatcher oversaw the Falklands War victory as well as held a hard line during the miner's strikes in 1984 and 1985.

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Gillian Anderson recently played the Iron Lady (Des Willie/Netflix)

Thatcher and her Conservative government had hoped to reduce the power of the trade unions. It's claimed that both of these will air in the new series. Mammoth Screen, the production company behind the production is a firm which is part of ITV Studios.

Although no leading lady has been cast to play the Iron Lady, she has previously been portrayed by the likes of Gillian Anderson in The Crown, Meryl Streep played her in the 2011 movie The Iron Lady, while Lesley Manville has also portrayed the late politician. Thatcher became Britain's first female Prime Minster in 1979 having secured a winning 44-seat majority.

Despite her controversial tenure, Thatcher is currently the longest-serving Prime Minister, having led the country for 11 years over three decades. In 2002, Thatcher ranked the highest amongst living persons in a BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.

Meanwhile, in a 2016 survey at the University of Leeds, Thatcher was voted the second-greatest British Prime Miniter after the Second World War. Currently, none of Thatcher's relatives, including her daughter Carol and son Markare yet to comment on the speculation surrounding the biopic.

Daniel Bird