The key to the character’s success over the years has been how Coogan has used him across different formats and styles, changing it up with new new show to avoid it all getting stale. The genius of this book, and “I, Partridge” before it, is how it manages to portray events through Alan’s perspective while also making it obvious how it would have played out if you’d been watching it from outside. Sheffield, Rob; Sepinwall, Alan; Fontoura, Maria; Fear, David (4 May 2021). "100 best sitcoms of all time". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved 8 May 2021.

It's no surprise to find that one of the nation's most underrated broadcasters has managed to produce another literary classic.Leaf, Jonathan (25 April 2014). "Review: Steve Coogan Takes Flight In 'Alan Partridge' ". Forbes . Retrieved 14 September 2015. a b Christie, Janet (7 May 2022). "Steve Coogan brings Alan Partridge to Scotland with a Stratagem for living our lives". The Scotsman . Retrieved 9 May 2022. Twenty-five years years after making his debut on Radio 4’s On The Hour, Alan Partridge is the comedy gift that keeps on giving. He’s a grandfather now, we learn in passing from his new book Nomad, but still as petty, immature and deluded as ever. a b "The 10 best TV sitcoms of all time". The Independent. 24 February 2015 . Retrieved 14 September 2015. The Partridge character first appeared in 1991, presenting sports on Radio 4 current affairs programme On The Hour, before being approached by BBC talent spotters to present his own chat show on the station, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, which was soon transferred to television.

Alan Gordon Partridge is a comedy character portrayed by the English actor Steve Coogan. A parody of British television personalities, Partridge is a tactless and inept broadcaster with an inflated sense of celebrity. Since his debut in 1991, he has appeared in media including radio and television series, books, podcasts and a feature film.First off, if you’re not a fan of Alan Partridge - and amazingly some people aren’t - then you won’t enjoy this book. Give it a miss. But if, like me, you are then this is something you really should read. a b Heritage, Stuart (4 April 2014). "Alan Partridge: a guide for Americans, newcomers and American newcomers". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 September 2015. In 1999, Partridge appeared on the BBC telethon Comic Relief, performing a medley of Kate Bush songs. [11] The BBC broadcast a second series of I'm Alan Partridge in 2002, [1] following Partridge's life in a static caravan with his new Ukrainian girlfriend after recovering from a mental breakdown. [12] [13] The writers found the second series difficult to make, feeling it had been too long since the first and that expectations for sitcoms had changed. [2] 1999—2009: Hiatus and smaller roles [ edit ] Connelly, Brendon (4 January 2013). "Richard Herring on Co-Creating Alan Partridge, His Rasputin TV Show And Dave's New Comedy Competition". Bleedingcool.com . Retrieved 14 September 2015. Partridge was created by Coogan and Armando Iannucci for the 1991 BBC Radio 4 comedy programme On the Hour, a spoof of British current affairs broadcasting. In 1992, Partridge hosted a spin-off spoof chat show, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. On the Hour transferred to television as The Day Today in 1994, followed by Knowing Me, Knowing You later that year. In 1997, Coogan starred as Partridge in a BBC sitcom, I'm Alan Partridge, written by Coogan, Iannucci and Peter Baynham, following Partridge's life in a roadside hotel working for a small radio station. It earned two BAFTAs and was followed by a second series in 2002.

Big Beacon is Partridge's third autobiography, following 2011's I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan and 2016's Nomad. As well as these series, the character has also appeared in various one-off specials, including several appearances in Comic Relief. A spoof autobiography, I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan was published in 2011 with a follow-up, Nomad, published in 2016. A collection of radio shows, TV series and one-off specials linked by the appearance, either as a significant recurring role or as a main character, of Alan Partridge, a hapless, socially inept and idiotic sports commentator-turned TV chat-show host-turned local radio personality played by Steve Coogan.

Notes

Alan Partridge was created for the 1991 BBC Radio 4 comedy programme On the Hour, a spoof of British current affairs broadcasting, as the show's hapless sports presenter. [1] He is portrayed by Steve Coogan, who had performed a similar character for a BBC college radio station at university. [1] Partridge holds right-wing views. He is a reader of the right-wing newspaper the Daily Mail, and supported Brexit in line with the Daily Mail position. [53] Coogan, who is left-wing, [42] described Partridge as a Little Englander, with a "myopic, slightly philistine mentality". [52] Coogan felt the humour came from Partridge's misjudgement, rather than in a celebration of bigotry: "I don't want to add to the sum total of human misery. I want to point out things where we can improve our behaviour, myself included." [2] He aimed to use humour to hold privileged and powerful people accountable. [2] a b Huddleston, Tom (1 August 2013). "Armando Iannucci interview - Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - Time Out Film". Time Out . Retrieved 17 February 2014. Drumm, Diana (28 March 2014). "Review: Why Alan Partridge isn't just for Steve Coogan fans". IndieWire . Retrieved 14 September 2015.