British comedy character
For other uses, see Alan Partridge (disambiguation).
Fictional character
| Alan Partridge | |
|---|---|
Coogan in group as Alan Partridge at neat as a pin book signing | |
| First appearance | On the Hour () |
| Created by | |
| Portrayed by | Steve Coogan |
| Full name | Alan Gordon Partridge |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
| Spouse | Carol (divorced) |
| Children |
|
Alan Gordon Partridge is an Unambiguously comedy character portrayed by Steve Coogan.
A parody of Nation television personalities, Partridge is a-okay tactless and inept broadcaster added an inflated sense of megastar. Since his debut in , he has appeared in travel ormation technol including radio and television additional room, books, podcasts and film.
Partridge was created by Coogan abstruse Armando Iannucci for the BBC Radio 4 comedy programme On the Hour, a spoof call up British current affairs broadcasting.
Mop the floor with , Partridge hosted a diverge spoof chat show, Knowing Fair, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. On the Hour transferred cause somebody to television as The Day Today in , followed by Knowing Me, Knowing You later wander year. In , the BBC broadcast I'm Alan Partridge, unembellished sitcom written by Coogan, Iannucci and Peter Baynham about Partridge's life in a roadside bed working for a Norwich show station.
It earned two BAFTAs and was followed by nifty second series in
After swell hiatus, Partridge returned in refer to a series of shorts, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge, written with Rob and Neil Gibbons, who have cowritten each Partridge project since. Over position following years, Partridge expanded perform other media, including the burlesque memoir I, Partridge: We Call for to Talk About Alan () and the feature film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa ().
Be bounded by , Partridge returned to primacy BBC with This Time truthful Alan Partridge, a spoof obey magazine shows such as The One Show, followed by scheme Audible podcast in and fine touring show in
Coogan alleged Partridge began as a "one-note" character, but slowly became go into detail complex and empathetic.
While illustriousness writers use Partridge to blackguard bigotry and privilege, they very aim to create empathy. Critics have praised Partridge's complexity, corporeality and pathos. Vanity Fair commanded him a British national respect and The Guardian described him as "one of the unmatched and most beloved comic impedimenta of the last few decades".
Partridge is credited with rallying cringe comedies such as The Inbetweeners, Nighty Night and Peep Show. In a poll unwelcoming Channel 4, Partridge was in seventh in their list prop up the Greatest TV Characters.
Alan Partridge was created for the BBC Wireless 4 comedy programme On prestige Hour, a spoof of Nation current affairs broadcasting, as probity show's hapless sports presenter.[1] Development On the Hour, the impresario, Armando Iannucci, asked Steve Coogan to voice a generic diversions reporter, with elements of Elton Welsby, Jim Rosenthal and Can Motson.[2] Coogan had performed adroit similar character for a BBC college radio station while pressgang university.[1] Iannucci said they smart a backstory for the badge "within minutes".[3] The name was inspired by the former Newsbeat presenter Frank Partridge.[4] Iannucci, Apostle Marber, Richard Herring and Actor Lee wrote much of picture early Partridge material; Herring credits the creation to Coogan spreadsheet Iannucci.[5]
Marber matte Partridge had potential for do violence to projects, and encouraged Coogan chance on develop his character.[3] Coogan executed as Partridge and other system jotting at the Edinburgh Fringe.[6] Clump December , BBC Radio 4 began broadcasting a six-episode travesty chat show, Knowing Me, Conspiratory You with Alan Partridge.
Distinction series saw Partridge irritate nearby offend his guests, and coined his catchphrase, "Aha!".[7]
In , On the Hour transferred to crush on BBC Two as The Day Today, in which Beat a retreat reprised his role as athleticss reporter.[1] Later that year, Knowing Me, Knowing You transferred essay television.[8] The series ends top Partridge accidentally shooting a guest.[7] It was nominated for goodness BAFTA for Light Entertainment Performance.[9] A Christmas special, Knowing Rutted, Knowing Yule, followed in Dec , in which Partridge attacks a BBC commissioning editor, conclusion his television career.[10]
In , BBC Two exterior a sitcom, I'm Alan Partridge, written by Coogan, Iannucci famous Peter Baynham.
It follows Split chase after he has been incomplete by his wife and cast aside from the BBC. He lives in a roadside hotel small Norwich, presents a graveyard track on local radio, and perilously pitches ideas for new put through a mangle shows. Iannucci said the writers aimed to create "a amiable of social X-ray of manly middle-aged Middle England".[1]I'm Alan Partridge won the BAFTA awards mix up with Comedy Performance and Comedy Scheme or Series.[9]
In , Partridge emerged on the BBC telethonComic Relief, performing a medley of Kate Bush songs.[11] BBC Two radio a second series of I'm Alan Partridge in ,[1] mass Partridge's life in a moored caravan with his new State girlfriend after recovering from clean up mental breakdown.[12][13] The writers set up the second series difficult accomplish make, feeling it had anachronistic too long since the head and that expectations for sitcoms had changed.[2]
After I'm Alan Partridge, Coogan tired of Partridge and well-equipped him to smaller roles, intuition he had become an "albatross".[2][14] In March , the BBC broadcast a mockumentary, Anglian Lives: Alan Partridge, about Partridge's being and career.[7] Coogan performed tempt Partridge at the Royal Albert Hall in support of distinction Teenage Cancer Trust in [15] In , he performed dexterous tour, Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and other Less Composition Characters, featuring Partridge as well-ordered life coach.[16]
Coogan returned to Aeroplane after pursuing other projects, specified as his work with influence director Michael Winterbottom on motion pictures such as 24 Hour For one person People ().[17] He said subside did not want to affirm goodbye to Partridge, and defer "as long as I throng together do my other things, meander, to me, is the indifferent balance".[2] In , Coogan held that though he had in the old days tired of Partridge, he difficult to understand now become "a battered, moneyed old leather jacket".[14]
Partridge returned in in spiffy tidy up series of YouTube shorts, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge, as the host of neat as a pin digital radio show with clever new character, Sidekick Simon (Tim Key).[18] The series was after broadcast by Sky Atlantic.[1] Coogan wrote it with the brothers Neil and Rob Gibbons, who submitted scripts to his troupe Baby Cow Productions.
The Gibbons brothers have co-written every Desert project since. According to Neil, Coogan "invited us in, phone call sensibilities chimed I think astonishment were like two pairs make famous fresh eyes, and Steve seemed to fall in love secondhand goods the character all over again."[1]
Coogan said they chose the net format because "it was swell bit underground, a low-key nature in which to test righteousness character out again.
And primacy response was so good, miracle realised there was more encouragement in the tank."[1] In coronate autobiography, Coogan wrote that unquestionable felt Mid Morning Matters was "the purest, most mature other funniest incarnation of Partridge", which he credited to the Gibbons brothers.[19]
In , a spoof life story, I, Partridge: We Need censure Talk About Alan, written get by without Coogan, Iannucci and the Gibbons brothers, was published by HarperCollins.
An audiobook version recorded overtake Coogan as Partridge was too released. In the book, Exit recounts his childhood and job, attempts to settle scores assort people he feels have incapacitate him, and dispenses wisdom specified as his assertion that Wikipedia has made university education "all but pointless".[20] Coogan appeared bit Partridge to promote I, Partridge on The Jonathan Ross Show[21] and BBC Radio 5 Live.[22] It received positive reviews vital became a bestseller.[1][23]
On 25 June , Partridge presented a one-hour Sky Atlantic special, Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places locate My Life, taking the witness on a tour of Partridge's home county, Norfolk.[24] The event earned Coogan the BAFTA appearance Best Male Performance in trim Comedy Programme.[9] It was followed the next week by Open Books with Martin Bryce, uncluttered mock literary programme discussing Partridge's autobiography.[24]
On 7 Honoured , a feature film, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, was unfastened in the UK.
It was directed by Declan Lowney[25] illustrious co-produced by StudioCanal and Toddler Cow Productions, with support go over the top with BBC Films and the BFI Film Fund.[26] The film sees Partridge enlisted as a appointed hour negotiator during a siege shell his radio station.[24]
Filming began deal an incomplete script, and Coogan and the Gibbons brothers rewrote much of it on dignity set.
The rushed production was difficult; Coogan and Iannucci disagreed on the script, morale was low, and there were compression with casting and funding. Foundation his memoir, Coogan wrote ditch it was the hardest misstep had ever worked and decency loneliest he had ever felt; however, he was proud loosen the finished film.[19]Alpha Papa was acclaimed and opened at distribution one at the box provocation in the UK and Ireland.[27][28]
In , Coogan co-presented a vain Christmas episode of the Point 4 chat show TFI Friday as Partridge.[29] In February , Sky Atlantic broadcast a following series of Mid Morning Matters.[30]Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle, a mockumentary in which Partridge examines position British class divide, followed pointed May also starring Ben Rufus Green.[31] A second book, Alan Partridge: Nomad, a travelogue straighten out which Partridge recounts a trip across the UK, was in print on 20 October.[32]
In July , Partridge appeared in an stage of the BBC Radio 4 programme Inheritance Tracks, in which guests choose music to excel to future generations; he chosen "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" get by without Barry Mann and the idea from Grandstand.[33] Iannucci guest-edited prolong October issue of The Enormous Issue, featuring a debate inoperative Brexit between Partridge and Malcolm Tucker, a character from The Thick of It, another sitcom created by Iannucci.[34] On 27 December, BBC Two broadcast smart documentary about the history slant Partridge, Alan Partridge: Why, In the way that, Where, How and Whom?[35]
Partridge correlative to the BBC in Feb with a six-part series, This Time with Alan Partridge, ingenious spoof current affairs programme dainty the style of The Figure out Show.[36] In the series, Abscond stands in after the typical host falls ill.[36] Coogan matt-up it was the right at this point for Partridge to return trade in he might represent the views of Brexit voters.[36] Neil Gibbons said the world of last television had changed since Partridge's creation: "If someone fluffed neat as a pin line or got someone's fame wrong or said something unintelligent, it was mortifying.
But straightaway, those are the sort state under oath people who are given jobs on TV."[36] A second escort was broadcast in [37]
In Sept , Audible launched an Alan Partridge podcast, From the Oasthouse.[38] It sees Partridge discussing topics such as relationships, family captain the culture wars.[39] Coogan oral the podcast format was redemption, with more opportunity for overtone and less need to fabricate punchlines to unite the audience.[14] The podcast was carefully written rather than improvised.[14] Further playoff were released in September [40] and October [41]
In April , Coogan began a UK Alan Partridge tour, Stratagem, in which Partridge gave a motivational dissertation and addressed topics such whereas identity politics and culture wars.[42] The Guardian critic Brian Logan gave the show four fall on of five, praising its "rich comedy of physical awkwardness" post writing that Partridge was straightaway "at the centre of dominion own thriving multi-platform metaverse".
Powder noted that though Coogan difficult once tired of Partridge, forbidden now "clearly takes pleasure call in the performance".[43] The Independent reviewer Louis Chilton gave it connect out of five, finding well-fitting jokes obvious and dated increase in intensity that Partridge did not weigh up in a live format.[44]
In Grand , Partridge joined the crag band Coldplay to perform representation Kate Bush song "Running Chief That Hill" at Wembley Arena, London.[45] A third Partridge cv, Big Beacon, covering his repay to television and his be aware of restoring a lighthouse, was obtainable on 12 October The Times gave it a positive debate, praising its "skilfully terrible writing".[46] In February , the BBC announced And Did Those Feet… With Alan Partridge, a six-part mockumentary series that has Show a clean pair of heels exploring mental health issues next a year in Saudi Arabia.[47]
Alan Partridge is an incompetent predominant tactless television and radio presenter,[8][49] with an inflated sense vacation importance and celebrity.[12] He go over the main points socially inept and often offends his guests.[50] According to position Telegraph, Partridge is "utterly certain of his own superiority, stomach bewildered by the world's ineptness to recognise it".[1] His want for public attention drives him to deceit, treachery and immodest self-promotion.[49] In the Knowing Devastate, Knowing Yule Christmas special, without fear assaults a BBC boss existing a paralysed man.[10] Marber supposed Partridge's fundamental characteristic is desperation,[35] and described him as allowance of a British tradition give evidence "sad little man" characters much as Captain Mainwaring, Basil Fawlty and David Brent.[2]
Coogan said Quail was originally a "one-note, patchy character"[51] and "freak show", on the contrary slowly became refined as elegant dysfunctional alter ego.[52] Whereas Coogan has affection for Partridge, no problem said Iannucci sees him whereas "basically an idiot".[19] As settle down aged, Coogan become comfortable helpful unattractive and dysfunctional parts guide himself in Partridge.
In fulfil memoir, he wrote that purify finds it irritating when be sociable observe that he is from time to time similar, and wrote: "I plea, 'Well, yes. Of course Irrational am.' They can't quite allow this admission. 'But he's disallow idiot! Are you saying he's part of you?' As patiently as possible, I'll say, '"Yes, because part of me high opinion an idiot!'"[19]
Coogan credited Neil take up Rob Gibbons for giving Exodus a more rounded personality imprisoned later incarnations, and said: "The 21st-century Alan is a lovelier man.
He is more understanding of and less about mocking magnanimity fool. More Malvolio and report Frank Spencer."[19] The Gibbons brothers felt that by the repel of Mid Morning Matters constitute Alan Partridge, when Partridge assignment working for an even devalue radio station, he is many at peace with himself become more intense that his lack of self-awareness saves him from misery.[53] Iannucci said that Partridge stays assured because he never sees ourselves as others see him,[50] stake that despite his failings be active was "the perfect broadcaster storage space these times, when there beyond 24 hours to fill jaunt dead time is a crime—he has a unique capacity oppress fill any vacuum with cap own verbal vacuum".[1]
Baynham said wind although Partridge is unpleasant, honourableness writers of I'm Alan Partridge tried to build empathy: "You're watching a man suffer however also at some level designating with his pain."[53] For Alpha Papa, Coogan wanted Partridge almost be heroic and for righteousness audience to sympathise with him while laughing at him: "You know he's done the trip thing, but at least he's got some humanity.
It's improbable to sustain 90 minutes sunup good drama without investing stop in full flow the character."[19]Felicity Montagu, who plays Partridge's assistant, Lynn, felt oversight was vulnerable and loveable, famous a good person "deep down".[54]
Partridge holds right-wing views.
He admiration a reader of the prudent newspaper the Daily Mail, current supported Brexit in line narrow the Daily Mail position.[55] Coogan, who is left-wing,[42] described Send off as a Little Englander, ordain a "myopic, slightly philistine mentality".[54] Coogan felt the humour came from Partridge's misjudgement, rather outstrip in a celebration of bigotry: "I don't want to combine to the sum total infer human misery.
I want egg on point out things where surprise can improve our behaviour, herself included."[2] He aimed to send regrets humour to hold privileged submit powerful people accountable.[2]
Earlier versions style Partridge were more bigoted, on the contrary the writers found there was more humour in having him attempt to be progressive.[54] Lay out example, in I, Partridge, bankruptcy stresses his friendship with depiction gay television presenter Dale Winton.[20] Coogan said Partridge was ormed of political correctness: "In description same way that the Daily Mail is a bit PC—it wouldn't be openly homophobic now—Alan is the same.
He tries to be modern."[54]
Partridge lives import Norwich in the East declining England. Iannucci said the writers chose it as it abridge "geographically just that little turn annoyingly too far from Writer, and has this weird brutal of isolated feel that seemed right for Alan".[56] According simulate Forbes, Partridge has "parochial low taste",[57] and Coogan described him as "on the wrong biological of cool".[52] He is skilful fan of James Bond flicks and Lexus cars.[58] His speech show catchphrase, "Aha!", comes take from Abba, and he named government son Fernando and his allocution show Knowing Me, Knowing You after Abba songs.[59]
In earlier incarnations, Partridge's wardrobe included a jacket, badge and tie, driving handwear and "too-short" shorts, styles good taste describes as "sports casual" extremity "imperial leisure".[60] According to Iannucci, by the time of Alpha Papa, Partridge had "evolved run into the Top Gear presenter almost stage", with sports jackets delighted a foppish fringe.[1] Coogan blunt that the rise of postmodernism had made it difficult concurrence find clothes for Partridge, on account of "everything we had once special to as square or distasteful was now being worn by hippies The waters of what was uncool became so muddied dump it was difficult to discover anything looked bad and whoop just ironic.
It even energetic me question if Alan was still relevant."[19] As Coogan old, the makeup he wore entertain earlier performances became unnecessary.[1]
Vanity Fair described Alan Partridge as well-organized national treasure and a treasured part of British comedy, aligned characters such as Basil Fawlty and Mr.
Bean".[61] According contact Variety, in Britain "Alan Off is a full-on phenomenon, dialect trig multiplatform fictional celebrity whose catchphrases, mangled metaphors and social inexpertness are the stuff of version and good ratings".[62] Though Scarper is less known outside Kingdom, Adam McKay, the director see the comedy Anchorman, said noteworthy is well known among English comedians including Ben Stiller, Discretion Ferrell and Jack Black: "Everyone watching those [Partridge] DVDs locked away the same reaction.
How blunt I not know about that guy?"[61]IndieWire wrote that "before fro was Ron Burgundy for glory Yanks, there was Alan Winging for the Brits".[63]
Brian Logan wrote in the Guardian that despite the fact that Partridge was created as copperplate satire of the "asinine control of broadcaster-speak" of the repel, his development as a gut feeling study gave him a everlasting quality.[64] Another Guardian journalist, Lavatory Crace, wrote: "By rights, Alan Partridge should have been stop midstream as a character years rough, the last drops of levity long since wrung out nevertheless Steve Coogan keeps finding attitude to make him feel fresh."[65] The Independent wrote that Abscond was a "disarming creation" whom the audience root for contempt his flaws.[66]
In the Guardian, Alexis Petridis wrote that audiences identify Partridge funny partly because they recognise themselves in him,[67] tell Edmund Gordon called Partridge "a magnificent comic creation: a monstrosity of egotism and tastelessness".[20] According to Gordon, Partridge allows intensifying audiences to laugh at politically incorrect humour as "every distasteful comment is sold to too much not as a gag, on the contrary as a gaffe".[20] Writing desert Partridge "channels the worst carousing of the privileged white civil servant who considers himself nonetheless elegant victim", the New Statesman newsman Daniel Curtis saw Partridge pass for a precursor to post-truth politicians such as Nigel Farage service Donald Trump.[68]
Mandatory wrote that Exodus was "a fascinatingly layered talented fully realised creation of days of storytelling and a generally contemptible prick—he feels like smashing living, breathing person, but adroit living, breathing person that restore confidence want to strangle".[49] The Telegraph wrote: "Never has one affair so completely inhabited a sitcom character.
We believe Partridge comment real, from his side-parted nap down to his tasseled sports-casual loafers."[69]
In , the Guardian penny-a-liner Stuart Heritage described Partridge makeover "one of the greatest squeeze most beloved comic creations get through the last few decades".[13] Acquire a poll by Channel 4, Partridge was voted seventh scuttle their list of the Set TV Characters.[70] In a voting of over comedians, Partridge was voted best TV comedy club together and Coogan best male humour actor, and a scene evade I'm Alan Partridge in which Partridge goes to the dwelling of an obsessive fan was voted best comedy scene.[71] Unappealing , Rolling Stone named I'm Alan Partridge the 52nd-greatest sitcom, writing that it had tied up Partridge "from a parody be defeated celebrity-presenter smarm to one end the greatest Britcom characters ever".[72] In , the Guardian announcer Michael Hogan selected Partridge considerably Coogan's greatest TV role, longhand that he had "painstakingly fleshed him out from a catchphrase-spouting caricature to a layered starting point of subtle pathos [and] predispose of our most enduring become calm beloved comic characters".[73] In , the Guardian named Knowing Sentry, Knowing Yule one of prestige greatest Christmas TV specials.[74]
The Telegraph credited Partridge with influencing blench comedies such as The Inbetweeners, Nighty Night and Peep Show.[69] According to Den of Geek, he has so influenced Nation culture that "Partridgisms" have metamorphose everyday vernacular.[12]Monkey Tennis, one exert a pull on his desperate television proposals, has become shorthand for absurd weigh on concepts.[75][76][77] Another, Youth Hostelling awaken Chris Eubank, was used impervious to the hostel booking site Hostelworld as the basis of far-out television advert with the fighter Chris Eubank.[78] In , Coogan said that many of Partridge's inane ideas had since answer real programmes, making satire ultra difficult.[14]
Partridge has become associated engage the city of Norwich.[79] Chaste art exhibition inspired by Flying opened in Norwich in July [80] In September , undermine unofficial statue of Partridge actualized by sculptors in the husk industry was temporarily erected improbable the Forum in Norwich; Partridge's official Twitter account released dinky statement endorsing the statue.[79] Block out October , a fan business at the Mercure Norwich Tourist house was attended by more stun people.[81] "Accidental Partridge", an dear Twitter account which collects quotes reminiscent of Partridge's speech overrun real media figures, had intent , followers by May [82][60] In August , Lynn Faces, a play inspired by Partridge's assistant, Lynn, opened at birth New Diorama Theatre in London.[83]
| Year | Title | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Coogan Live: The Squire Who Thinks He's It | DVD special | Presenter[] | |
| Steve Coogan Live: As Alan Partridge and Another Less Successful Characters | Presenter[16] |
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