154-434: Alan Gordon Partridge is an English comedy character portrayed by 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 film. Partridge was created by Coogan and Armando Iannucci for the 1991 BBC Radio 4 comedy programme On
308-626: A BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination. For his portrayal of Jimmy Savile in the BBC drama The Reckoning (2023), he received a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor . Stephen John Coogan was born on 14 October 1965 in Middleton, Lancashire , the son of housewife Kathleen (née Coonan) and IBM engineer Anthony "Tony" Coogan. He has four brothers and one sister, and
462-509: A blazer , badge and tie, driving gloves and "too-short" shorts, styles he describes as "sports casual" and "imperial leisure". According to Iannucci, by the time of Alpha Papa , Partridge had "evolved to the Top Gear presenter circa 2005 stage", with sports jackets and a foppish fringe. Coogan said that the rise of postmodernism had made it difficult to find clothes for Partridge, as "everything we had once seen as square or distasteful
616-410: A "one-note, sketchy character" and "freak show", but slowly became refined as a dysfunctional alter ego. Whereas Coogan said he has affection for Partridge, he said Iannucci sees him as "basically an idiot". Coogan credited Neil and Rob Gibbons for giving Partridge a more rounded personality in later incarnations, and said: "The 21st-century Alan is a nicer man. He is more empathetic and less about mocking
770-500: A 700-seat marquee auditorium, which hosted, among other things, opera, even though the organisers had been told it was no such place for the artform. The venue also took over the nearby Heriot-Watt Students' Association and the Little Lyceum. In total, it hosted 38 companies. The next year it became a "tented village", with several smaller tents. Malcolm Hardee made his debut here as part of The Greatest Show On Legs . In 1982
924-524: A BBC college radio station while at university. Iannucci said they developed a backstory for the character "within minutes". The name was inspired by the former Newsbeat presenter Frank Partridge. Iannucci, Patrick Marber , Richard Herring and Stewart Lee wrote much of the early Partridge material; Herring credits the creation to Coogan and Iannucci. Marber felt Partridge had potential for other projects, and encouraged Coogan to develop his character. Coogan performed as Partridge and other characters at
1078-460: A British national treasure and the Guardian described him as "one of the greatest and most beloved comic creations of the last few decades". Partridge is credited with influencing cringe comedies such as The Inbetweeners , Nighty Night and Peep Show . In 2001 a poll by Channel 4 , Partridge was voted seventh on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters . Paul Calf began as
1232-413: A British national treasure and The Guardian described him as "one of the greatest and most beloved comic creations of the last few decades". Partridge is credited with influencing cringe comedies such as The Inbetweeners , Nighty Night and Peep Show . In a 2001 poll by Channel 4 , Partridge was voted seventh in their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters . Alan Partridge was created for
1386-565: A Slave (2013). Coogan's autobiography, Easily Distracted , was published in October 2015. In 2016, after Henry Normal stood down, Christine Langan (head of BBC Film at the time) was hired by Coogan (creative director of Baby Cow Productions) as the new CEO; this led to BBC Worldwide increasing its stake to 73%. Since joining, Langan has executive-produced all of the content from Baby Cow Productions, including Camping , Stan & Ollie , Zapped and The Witchfinder . Coogan played
1540-552: A bestseller. On 25 June 2012, Partridge presented a one-hour Sky Atlantic special, Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of My Life , taking the viewer on a tour of Partridge's home county, Norfolk . The programme earned Coogan the 2013 BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme. It was followed the next week by Open Books with Martin Bryce , a mock literary programme discussing Partridge's autobiography. On 7 August 2013,
1694-471: A car mechanic who eventually married Pauline. Paul supports Manchester City and is very partial to Wagon Wheels . He wears Burton suits, sports a bleached mullet hairstyle, and drives a Ford Cortina . Pauline Calf's Wedding Video won the 1995 BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy. Other Coogan creations include Tommy Saxondale, Duncan Thicket, Ernest Eckler and Portuguese Eurovision Song Contest winner Tony Ferrino. Duncan Thicket has appeared in
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#17327937925151848-535: A character named 'Duncan Disorderly' in Coogan's early stand-up routines. Calf first came to wider public notice in 1993, with several appearances on Saturday Zoo , a late-night variety show presented by Jonathan Ross on Channel 4. Paul has appeared in two video diaries, an episode of Coogan's Run , and in various stand-up performances. He is an unemployed Mancunian wastrel with a particular hatred of students. His catchphrase, spoken to disparage something or someone,
2002-494: A character years ago, the last drops of humour long since wrung out ... but Steve Coogan keeps finding ways to make him feel fresh." The Independent wrote that Partridge was a "disarming creation" whom the audience root for despite his flaws. In the Guardian , Alexis Petridis wrote that audiences find Partridge funny partly because they recognise themselves in him, and Edmund Gordon called Partridge "a magnificent comic creation:
2156-546: A comedy venue in the former J. & R. Allan's department store on Cowgate . A 3am late licence made it a home for late-night socialising for comedians, and the raucous late-night show Late 'n' Live was started there. In 1988, the Society moved from 170 High Street to expanded headquarters at 158–166 High Street on the Royal Mile , with an extension leading back towards the former Wireworks Building. The basement became
2310-489: A daughter from a previous four-year relationship with solicitor Anna Cole. Although raised Catholic , Coogan is now an atheist. A motoring enthusiast, he has owned a number of Ferraris , but ceased after calculating that the overall costs exceeded those of running a private plane. In February 2016, he was fined £670 and banned from driving for 28 days after being caught speeding in Brighton . In August 2019, he escaped
2464-516: A debate on Brexit between Partridge and Malcolm Tucker , a character from The Thick of It , another sitcom created by Iannucci. On 27 December, BBC Two broadcast a documentary about the history of Partridge, Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How and Whom? Partridge returned to the BBC in February 2019 with a six-part series, This Time with Alan Partridge , a spoof current affairs programme in
2618-481: A dysfunctional alter ego. In 1992, Partridge hosted a spin-off Radio 4 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
2772-581: A feature film, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa , was released in the UK. It was directed by Declan Lowney and co-produced by StudioCanal and Baby Cow Productions, with support from BBC Films and the BFI Film Fund . The film sees Partridge enlisted as a crisis negotiator during a siege at his radio station. Filming began with an incomplete script, and Coogan and the Gibbons brothers rewrote much of it on
2926-564: A feeling that "smaller venues may lose out, but this case may be overstated... The episode of the super-venues, the Assembly Rooms in particular, has some way to go yet". Student shows continued to thrive with the National Student Theatre Company, National Youth Music Theatre, Cambridge Mummers, Oxford Theatre Group and Bradford University producing well-received new work. Among professional companies,
3080-444: A free teaser episode where Partridge commented on the coronation of Charles III and Camilla . In April 2022, Coogan began an Alan Partridge tour, Stratagem . Reviewing the show for the Guardian , Brian Logan noted that though Coogan had once tired of Partridge, he now "clearly takes pleasure in the performance". Coogan starred in the 2022 film The Lost King , playing the husband of the writer Philippa Langley , who discovered
3234-487: A guest. It was nominated for the 1995 BAFTA for Light Entertainment Performance. A Christmas special, Knowing Me, Knowing Yule , followed in December 1995, in which Partridge attacks a BBC commissioning editor, ending his television career. In 1997, BBC Two broadcast a sitcom , I'm Alan Partridge , written by Coogan, Iannucci and Peter Baynham . It follows Partridge after he has been left by his wife and dropped from
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#17327937925153388-566: A handful of their famous routines, which today mostly play as mild yet expertly timed delights." For his performance, he earned a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role . In 2019, Partridge returned to the BBC with This Time with Alan Partridge , a spoof of magazine shows such as The One Show , followed by an Audible podcast, From the Oasthouse , in 2020. The podcast has now run for three seasons, including
3542-508: A journey across the UK, was published on 20 October. In July 2017, Partridge appeared in an episode of the BBC Radio 4 programme Inheritance Tracks , in which guests choose music to pass to future generations; he selected " Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) " by Barry Mann and the theme from Grandstand . Iannucci guest-edited an October 2017 issue of The Big Issue , featuring
3696-469: A lack of venues, but just as that limit seemed to be being reached, groups began to find more efficient ways of sharing spaces. Venues could be fully utilised from 10am to 2am, with up to seven different groups throughout the day. The sharing led to the rise of bigger, more centralised venues. Rents increased too, with a venue like Heriot-Watt Students' Union doubling their rent in three years. In 1986, promoter Karen Koren established The Gilded Balloon as
3850-499: A letter defending Corbyn, describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the 2019 general election . In December 2019, along with 42 other cultural figures, he signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party in the election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers
4004-516: A medley of Kate Bush songs. BBC Two broadcast a second series of I'm Alan Partridge in 2002, following Partridge's life in a static caravan with his new Ukrainian girlfriend after recovering from a mental breakdown . 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. After I'm Alan Partridge , Coogan tired of Partridge and limited him to smaller roles, feeling he had become an " albatross ". In March 2003,
4158-508: A miniature Roman general figure, alongside Owen Wilson 's Jedediah, a miniature cowboy figure. In 2007, Coogan played a psychiatrist on Larry David 's Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO , and in 2008, starred in the BBC1 drama Sunshine . In March 2008, it was confirmed that Coogan would return to doing comedy as part of his first stand-up tour in ten years. The tour, named "Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and other less successful characters", saw
4312-466: A monster of egotism and tastelessness". According to Gordon, Partridge allows progressive audiences to laugh at politically incorrect humour as "every loathsome comment is sold to us not as a gag, but as a gaffe". Writing that Partridge "channels the worst excesses of the privileged white man who considers himself nonetheless a victim", the New Statesman journalist Daniel Curtis saw Partridge as
4466-461: A number of locations around the city. The internet began to have an impact in 2000 with the launch of the Fringe's official website, which sold more than half a million tickets online by 2005. The following year, a Half Price Ticket Tent, run in association with Metro newspaper, started offering special ticket prices for different shows each day. This sold 45,000 tickets in its first year. In 2008,
4620-426: A part-time basis, but it became clear after a few weeks that the role would have to be permanent. Milligan was responsible for a number of innovations which remain in place today, such as the numbering system for venues and the Fringe map in the brochure, and he was also credited with establishing the co-operative spirit of the Fringe. He left in 1976. Between 1976 and 1981, under the direction of Alistair Moffat ,
4774-495: A pilot taking Lou and Andy to Disneyland. Coogan has played himself several times on screen. First, in one of the vignettes of Jim Jarmusch 's 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes , alongside Alfred Molina . Second, in 2006 Coogan starred with Rob Brydon in Michael Winterbottom 's A Cock and Bull Story , a self-referential film of the "unfilmable" self-referential novel Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne . In
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4928-587: A play inspired by Partridge's assistant, Lynn, opened at the New Diorama Theatre in London. Steve Coogan Stephen John Coogan ( / ˈ k uː ɡ ən / ; born 14 October 1965) is an English comedian, actor, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for creating and portraying Alan Partridge , a socially inept and politically incorrect media personality, which he developed while working with Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris on On
5082-409: A precursor to post-truth politicians such as Nigel Farage and Donald Trump . Mandatory wrote that Partridge was "a fascinatingly layered and fully realised creation of years of storytelling and a fundamentally contemptible prick—he feels like a living, breathing person, but a living, breathing person that you want to strangle". The Telegraph wrote: "Never has one actor so completely inhabited
5236-442: A return to pre-pandemic levels, with 3,334 shows. Fifty were livestreamed, by NextUp Comedy , for the first time ever since the founding of The Fringe, in an effort to stay true to The Fringe Society's 2022 vision of equality and inclusiveness. The 2025 festival is scheduled from August 1 to 25. The Fringe started life when eight theatre companies turned up uninvited to the inaugural Edinburgh International Festival in 1947. With
5390-592: A review of Everyman in 1947, when a critic remarked it was a shame the show was so far out "on the fringe of the Festival". In 1950, it was still being referred to in similar terms, with a small 'f': On the fringe of the official Festival there are many praiseworthy "extras," including presentations by the Scottish Community Drama Association and Edinburgh University Dramatic Society – Dundee Courier , 24 August 1950 Since it
5544-471: A roadside hotel working for a Norwich radio station. It earned two BAFTAs and was followed by a second series in 2002. After a hiatus, Partridge returned in 2010 with a series of shorts, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge , written with Rob and Neil Gibbons , who have cowritten every Partridge project since. Over the following years, Partridge expanded into other media, including the spoof memoir I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan (2011) and
5698-571: A roadside hotel working for a small radio station. It earned two BAFTAs and was followed by a second series in 2002. After I'm Alan Partridge , Coogan tired of Partridge and limited him to smaller roles. Coogan said he did not want to say goodbye to Partridge, and that "as long as I can do my other things, that, to me, is the perfect balance". He later said that Partridge had once been an " albatross " but had become "a battered, comfortable old leather jacket". Critics have praised Partridge's complexity, realism and pathos . Vanity Fair called him
5852-399: A series of shorts, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge , written with new writers Rob and Neil Gibbons . It was followed by the spoof memoirs I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan (2011) and Nomad (2016), the feature film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013), and several TV specials. In his memoir, Coogan wrote that Alpha Papa was the hardest he had ever worked and that
6006-430: A sitcom character. We believe Partridge is real, from his side-parted hair down to his tasseled sports-casual loafers." In 2014, the Guardian writer Stuart Heritage described Partridge as "one of the greatest and most beloved comic creations of the last few decades". In a 2001 poll by Channel 4 , Partridge was voted seventh in their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters . In a 2017 poll of over 100 comedians, Partridge
6160-564: A special Christmas episode of the Channel 4 chat show TFI Friday as Partridge. In February 2016, Sky Atlantic broadcast a second series of Mid Morning Matters . Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle , a mockumentary in which Partridge examines the British class divide , followed in May also starring Ben Rufus Green . A second book, Alan Partridge: Nomad , a travelogue in which Partridge recounts
6314-601: A teacher that it could lead to a precarious profession. After five failed applications to various drama schools in London , he received a place at the theatre company New Music before gaining a place at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama , where he met future collaborator John Thomson . Coogan began his career as a comic and impressionist , performing regularly in Ipswich , before working as
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6468-482: A tour of live shows. Coogan, along with his writing partner Henry Normal , founded Baby Cow Productions in 1999. Together, they have served as executive producers for shows such as The Mighty Boosh , Nighty Night , Marion and Geoff , Gavin & Stacey , Human Remains and Moone Boy , as well as the Alan Partridge feature film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa . They have also produced Where Are
6622-599: A transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few". In September 2023, Coogan addressed the Liberal Democrat Conference by video link, expressing that he would tactically vote for the Liberal Democrats over the Labour Party in the 2024 general election , as "the candidate best placed to kick the Tories out is
6776-419: A vast free showcase of events held on The Meadows – was cancelled when a sponsor could not be secured. The "Big Four" venues - Assembly , Gilded Balloon , The Pleasance and Underbelly - also decided to market themselves as Edinburgh Comedy Festival , which drew criticism from some quarters. After an interim period, during which Tim Hawkins, formerly general manager of Brighton Komedia took charge,
6930-565: A voice artist for television advertisements and the satirical puppet show Spitting Image . In 1988, he provided vocals for the acid house record 'Don't Believe the Hype' credited to Mista E. The record peaked at number 41 in December 1988, narrowly missing the main chart rundown. In 1989, he appeared in a series of specially shot sketches in the Observation round in the long-running ITV game show The Krypton Factor . In 1992, Coogan won
7084-564: A year in Saudi Arabia. Alan Partridge is an incompetent and tactless television and radio presenter, with an inflated sense of importance and celebrity. He is socially inept and often offends his guests. According to the Telegraph , Partridge is "utterly convinced of his own superiority, and bewildered by the world's inability to recognise it". His need for public attention drives him to deceit, treachery and shameless self-promotion. In
7238-747: A year, in August, and board members serve a term of four years. The Board appoints the Fringe Society's Chief Executive (formerly known as the Fringe Administrator or Director). The Chief Executive operates under the chair. Phoebe Waller-Bridge , whose show Fleabag was performed at the Fringe in 2013 before it was adapted for television, was named the first-ever President of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society in 2021. The planned 2020 Fringe Festival
7392-466: Is "Bag o' shite ". Paul lives in a council house in the fictional town of Ottle with his mother and his sister, Pauline Calf (also played by Coogan). His father, Pete Calf (played by Coogan in Coogan's Run ) died some time before the first video diary was made. For a long time he was obsessed with getting back together with his ex-girlfriend, Julie. Paul's best friend is "Fat" Bob (played by John Thomson),
7546-423: Is a full-on phenomenon, a multiplatform fictional celebrity whose catchphrases, mangled metaphors and social ineptitude are the stuff of legend and good ratings". Though Partridge is less known outside Britain, Adam McKay , the director of the 2004 comedy Anchorman , said he is well known among American comedians including Ben Stiller , Will Ferrell and Jack Black : "Everyone watching those [Partridge] DVDs had
7700-410: Is an idiot!"' I have no problem showing all those imperfections. What liberates me and makes me stronger is utilising all that dysfunction. I really don't care. Especially as I get older. I just think to myself, "Put in all those negative things. Put in all the stuff that is unattractive, that clearly comes from somewhere, that must be part of me." —Steve Coogan Coogan said Partridge was originally
7854-441: Is an open-access (or " unjuried ") performing arts festival, meaning that there is no selection committee, and anyone may participate, with any type of performance. The official Fringe Programme categorises shows into sections for theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre , circus , cabaret , children's shows, musicals , opera, music, spoken word , exhibitions, and events. Comedy is the largest section, making up over one-third of
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#17327937925158008-482: Is controlled by a handful of tax shy billionaires with an agenda. Anyone who stands up to the press is attacked by them because they're bullies." He added "the fact that Meghan Markle and Harry were attacked has nothing to do with jet-setting hypocrisy. It's because they broke the golden rule, which is to leave us alone and we'll go easy on you next time." In 1993, Coogan was living in Didsbury . He later lived in
8162-680: Is especially good whenever Martin's impatient manner tilts into genuine moral indignation." Coogan received the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Venice Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay as well as nominations for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay . The film earned four Academy Award nominations including for Best Picture losing to Steve McQueen 's historical drama 12 Years
8316-554: The 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel, Coogan said that "it goes without saying that what Hamas did is evil beyond imagination — it was horrific and brutal". In June 2024, Coogan was one of more than 100 cultural figures to sign a letter calling for Labour to halt sales of arms to Israel if it is elected. In June 2024, ahead of the 2024 general election , Coogan endorsed the Green Party and campaigned for Sian Berry . Coogan's show Steve Coogan in character with John Thomson
8470-687: The Actors Touring Company , it had operated in the south side of the city in 1980 and 1981, but in 1982 expanded into a piece of empty ground popularly known as "The Hole in The Ground" near the Usher Hall. This was once the site of a church building ( Poole 's Synod Hall), which was converted to a cinema, and where the Saltire complex was subsequently built in the early 1990s. The new Traverse Theatre opened here in 1993. It had
8624-614: The Almeida Theatre , ATC, Cheek By Jowl , Cherub, Cliff Hanger, Entertainment Machine, Hull Truck , Kick Theatre, Lumiere and Son, Medieval Players and Trickster were regulars. In 1983, the Fringe joined with the International Festival, Edinburgh Tattoo and the Film Festival to promote Edinburgh as 'The Festival City' for the first time. Moffatt believed the growth of the Fringe would stop due to
8778-670: The Assembly Theatre in the empty Georgian building Assembly Rooms on George Street (formerly the EIF Festival Club), the investment in staging, lighting and sound meant that the original amateur or student theatricals were left behind. In the same year, the YMCA in South St Andrew Street, which had been an important venue since the early days, closed. However, the subsequent rise in prominence of
8932-465: The BBC . In 2009, Coogan was featured, alongside Vic Reeves , Bob Mortimer and Julia Davis , in the spoof documentary TV film Steve Coogan – The Inside Story . The same year he spoke on the influence of Monty Python on his comedy when he appeared in the television documentary, Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut) . In 2010, he worked again with Brydon and Michael Winterbottom for
9086-473: The British Academy Television Award for Best Actor . Coogan appeared in the 2024 film Joker: Folie à Deux as Paddy Meyers, a TV personality who interviews the Joker . Filming for the next Partridge project, And Did Those Feet... With Alan Partridge , began in early 2024. Coogan stars in multiple roles in a London stage version of the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove , adapted by Iannucci. The play opened at
9240-629: The East of England . Iannucci said the writers chose it as it is "geographically just that little bit annoyingly too far from London, and has this weird kind of isolated feel that seemed right for Alan". According to Forbes , Partridge has "parochial bad taste", and Coogan described him as "on the wrong side of cool". He is a fan of James Bond films and Lexus cars. His talk show catchphrase, "Aha!", comes from ABBA , and he named his son Fernando and his talk show Knowing Me, Knowing You after ABBA songs. In earlier incarnations, Partridge's wardrobe included
9394-618: The Edinburgh Fringe , the Fringe or the Edinburgh Fringe Festival ) is the world's largest performance arts festival, which in 2024 spanned 25 days, sold more than 2.6 million tickets and featured more than 51,446 scheduled performances of 3,746 different shows across 262 venues from 60 different countries. Of those shows, the largest section was comedy, representing almost 40% of shows, followed by theatre, which
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#17327937925159548-596: The Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe during August. It set a standard to which other companies on the Fringe aspired. The Traverse is occasionally referred to as "The Fringe venue that got away", reflecting its current status as a permanent and integral part of the Edinburgh arts scene. The Pleasance , a venue since the first year of the Fringe, was also important in setting the artistic tone. Christopher Richardson, founder of
9702-767: The First World War . During the 1950s, his paternal grandfather established a dance hall for Irish immigrants. Coogan has stated that he had a happy childhood, and his parents fostered children on a short-term basis. Coogan lived on Manchester New Road in Alkrington . His father stood for the SDP-Liberal Alliance in the Middleton South ward at the Rochdale Borough Council elections in both May 1983 and May 1984. He
9856-697: The Guardian journalist Michael Hogan selected Partridge as Coogan's greatest TV role, writing that he had "painstakingly fleshed him out from a catchphrase-spouting caricature to a layered creation of subtle pathos [and] one of our most enduring and beloved comic characters". The Telegraph credited Partridge with influencing cringe comedies such as The Inbetweeners , Nighty Night and Peep Show . According to Den of Geek , he has so influenced British culture that "Partridgisms" have become everyday vernacular. Monkey Tennis , one of his desperate television proposals, has become shorthand for absurd television concepts. Another, Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank ,
10010-751: The Knowing Me, Knowing Yule Christmas special, he assaults a BBC boss and a paralysed man. Marber said Partridge's fundamental characteristic is desperation, and described him as part of a British tradition of "sad little man" characters such as Captain Mainwaring , Basil Fawlty and David Brent . What annoys me the most, however, is people saying, "You're a bit like Alan, aren't you?" and then laughing hysterically. To which I reply, "Well, yes. Of course I am.'" They can't quite believe this admission. "But he's an idiot! Are you saying he's part of you?" As patiently as possible, I'll say, '"Yes, because part of me
10164-587: The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats . He believes that the Conservative Party think "people are plebs" and that "they like to pat people on the head". In 2013 he voiced his support for abolishing the British monarchy . In August 2014, Coogan was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of
10318-765: The Noël Coward Theatre on 8 October 2024. Coogan has said that he likes to "keep [himself] private", and added: "I have never wanted to be famous, as such – fame is a by-product." He has been a British tabloid fixture since as early as 1996, and has stated that such outlets have subjected him to entrapment and blackmail , printed obvious lies about him, and have targeted his family and friends in attempts to extract stories from them. Coogan in some cases strongly denied allegations, but in others did not contest them because he wanted to shield vulnerable friends from adverse publicity. The tabloids also published intrusive information about his relationships and
10472-550: The Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for his performance with long-time collaborator John Thomson , and starred alongside him and Caroline Aherne in a one-off Granada TV sketch show , The Dead Good Show . His most prominent characters developed at this time were Paul Calf, a stereotypical working class Mancunian , and his sister Pauline, played by Coogan in drag . While working on
10626-477: The Pleasance Theatre Trust , became a major Fringe figure. John Cairney is credited with pioneering the one-man Fringe show with his show based on Robert Burns , There Was A Man , in 1965, although Elspeth Douglas Reid had done her One Woman Theatre as early as 1955. American Nancy Cole played Gertrude Stein in 1969 and continued to do so until 1985. Over the first two decades of
10780-527: The Radio 4 comedy On the Hour , Coogan created Alan Partridge, a parody of British sports presenters , with the producer Armando Iannucci . Coogan described Partridge as a Little Englander , with right-wing values and poor taste. He is socially inept, often offending his guests, and has an inflated sense of importance and celebrity. According to Coogan, Partridge was originally a "one-note, sketchy character" and "freak show", but slowly became refined as
10934-489: The 1985 Kate Bush song " Running Up That Hill " at Wembley Stadium , London. A third Partridge memoir, Big Beacon , covering his return to television and his experience restoring a lighthouse, was published on 12 October 2023. The Times gave it a positive review, praising its "skilfully terrible writing". In February 2024, the BBC announced And Did Those Feet… With Alan Partridge , a six-part mockumentary series that has Partridge exploring mental health issues following
11088-420: The 1991 BBC Radio 4 comedy programme On the Hour , a spoof of British current affairs broadcasting, as the show's hapless sports presenter . He is portrayed by Steve Coogan . Developing On the Hour , the producer, Armando Iannucci , asked Coogan to do a voice for a generic sports reporter, with elements of Elton Welsby , Jim Rosenthal and John Motson . Coogan had performed a similar character for
11242-520: The 1992 Edinburgh Fringe . In December 1992, BBC Radio 4 began broadcasting a six-episode spoof chat show, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge . The series saw Partridge irritate and offend his guests, and coined his catchphrase, "Aha!". In 1994, On the Hour transferred to television on BBC Two as The Day Today , in which Partridge reprised his role as sports reporter. Later that year, Knowing Me, Knowing You transferred to television. The series ends with Partridge accidentally shooting
11396-635: The Assembly Rooms meant there was now a balance in the Fringe between the Old Town and the New Town, with Princes Street in the middle. Fringe Sunday started in the High Street in 1981 and moved, through pressure of popularity, to Holyrood Park in 1983. Fringe Sunday was held on the second Sunday of the Fringe when companies performed for free. Having outgrown even Holyrood Park, this showcase took place on The Meadows and continued until 2008. 1981
11550-796: The BBC Radio Four spoof sci-fi series Nebulous . He played the Gnat in the 1998 TV adaptation of Alice Through the Looking-Glass starring Kate Beckinsale , Coogan starred in BBC2's The Private Life of Samuel Pepys in 2003, and Cruise of the Gods in 2002 and portrayed Factory Records boss, Tony Wilson in the film, 24 Hour Party People (2002). In 2006, he had a cameo in the Little Britain Christmas special as
11704-573: The BBC broadcast a mockumentary , Anglian Lives: Alan Partridge , about Partridge's life and career. Coogan performed as Partridge at the Royal Albert Hall in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust in 2004, and in 2008 he performed a tour, Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and other Less Successful Characters, featuring Partridge as a life coach . Coogan returned to Partridge after pursuing other projects, such as his work with
11858-444: The BBC. He lives in a roadside hotel outside Norwich , presents a graveyard slot on local radio, and desperately pitches ideas for new television shows. Iannucci said the writers aimed to create "a kind of social X-ray of male middle-aged Middle England ". I'm Alan Partridge won the 1998 BAFTA awards for Comedy Performance and Comedy Programme or Series. In 1999, Partridge appeared on the BBC telethon Comic Relief , performing
12012-573: The Fringe Club (variously in the High Street from 1971 and at Teviot Row House from 1981) provided nightly showcases of Fringe fare to allow audiences to sample shows. In its earlier years the club also provided a significant space for after-hours socialising at a time when Edinburgh's strict licensing laws meant a 10pm pub closing time. For a time, the main ticket office was in the University Chaplaincy Centre, and then in
12166-466: The Fringe Shop on the Royal Mile , and in August they also manage Fringe Central, a separate collection of spaces dedicated to providing support for Fringe participants during their time at the festival. The Fringe board of directors is drawn from members of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, many of whom are Fringe participants themselves – performers or venue operators. Elections are held once
12320-456: The Fringe faced its biggest crisis so far when the computerised ticketing system failed. The events surrounding the failed box office software led to the resignation of Fringe Director Jon Morgan after only one full year in post. The resultant financial loss suffered by the Fringe Society was estimated at £300,000, which it was forced to meet from its reserves, although other sources report this at £900,000. These events attracted much comment from
12474-423: The Fringe head's basic administrative function. A report into the failure was commissioned from accountancy firm Scott-Moncrieff. Several venues now use their own ticketing systems; this is partly due to issues of commissions and how ticket revenue is distributed, but was reinforced by this 2008 failure of the main box office. The same year, other incidents conspired to add to the negative publicity. Fringe Sunday –
12628-464: The Fringe in the late 1970s and some successful Fringe performers transferred to perform works at the Festival. These included Richard Crane and Faynia Williams, who in 1981 produced a sell-out version of The Brothers Karamazov for the Festival, after having been successful in the Fringe during the '70s. The early 1980s saw the arrival of the "super-venue" – locations that contained multiple performing spaces. By 1981 when William Burdett-Coutts set up
12782-399: The Fringe on merit given the Society's position of neutrality. Increasing show numbers was therefore a way of attracting more attention. At this point, the Fringe operated on only two full-time members of staff. In 1977, the office moved to a converted shop and basement at 170 High Street. The International Festival, now under the direction of John Drummond, became more accommodating towards
12936-436: The Fringe, each performing group used its own performing space, or venue. However, by the late 1960s, the concept of sharing a venue became popular, principally as a means of cutting costs. It soon became common for halls to host up to six or seven different shows per day. The obvious next step was to partition a venue into two or more performing spaces; the majority of today's major venues fit into this category. For many years,
13090-646: The Gibbons brothers. In 2011, a spoof autobiography, I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan , written by Coogan, Iannucci and the Gibbons brothers, was published by HarperCollins . An audiobook version recorded by Coogan as Partridge was also released. In the book, Partridge recounts his childhood and career, attempts to settle scores with people he feels have wronged him, and dispenses wisdom such as his assertion that Misplaced Pages has made university education "all but pointless". Coogan appeared as Partridge to promote I, Partridge on The Jonathan Ross Show and BBC Radio 5 Live . It received positive reviews and became
13244-399: The Hour and The Day Today . Partridge has featured in several television series such as I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002) and the film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013). Coogan has earned accolades such as four BAFTA Awards and three British Comedy Awards , and nominations for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award . Coogan began his career in the 1980s as a voice actor on
13398-430: 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, the BBC broadcast I'm Alan Partridge , a sitcom written by Coogan, Iannucci and Peter Baynham about Partridge's life in
13552-423: The International Festival programme. The YMCA became established as the first central Fringe ticket office. Not long afterwards came the first complaints that the Fringe had become too big. Director Gerard Slevin claimed in 1961 that "it would be much better if only ten halls were licensed". In the 1960s and 1970s, the Fringe began to establish its reputation for size and variety and the tension between it and
13706-622: The International Festival using the city's major venues, these companies took over smaller, alternative venues for their productions. Seven performed in Edinburgh, and one undertook a version of the medieval morality play " Everyman " in Dunfermline Abbey , about 20 miles north, across the River Forth in Fife. These groups aimed to take advantage of the large assembled theatre crowds to showcase their own alternative theatre. Although at
13860-543: The Joneses? , an online sitcom which uses wiki technology to allow the audience to upload scripts and storyline ideas. Other TV shows he has starred in include Coogan's Run , Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible , Monkey Trousers and Saxondale . Coogan has provided voices for the animated series I Am Not an Animal and Bob and Margaret , two Christmas specials featuring Robbie the Reindeer , and an episode of
14014-491: The Lib Dem candidate". In October, Coogan, Tilda Swinton , Miriam Margolyes , Charles Dance , Maxine Peake , and Peter Mullan were among more than 2,000 cultural figures to sign a letter calling for a Gaza ceasefire and accused the UK government of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them" in the wake of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war . Following criticism that the letter did not acknowledge or condemn
14168-525: The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Our Idiot Brother (2011), Ruby Sparks (2012), Irreplaceable You (2018), and Greed (2019). He co-starred as himself with Rob Brydon in A Cock and Bull Story (2005) and the BBC series The Trip (2010), The Trip to Italy (2014), The Trip to Spain (2017), and The Trip to Greece (2020), all of which were also re-edited into films. In 1999, Coogan co-founded
14322-653: The Royal Mile Centre on the High Street. Although the Fringe was now associated with the High Street, areas like the New Town , West End and Morningside were also prominent in this period. Problems then began to arise as the Fringe became too big for students and volunteers to deal with. Eventually in 1969, the Fringe Society became a constituted body, and in 1970 it employed its first administrator, John Milligan. He started work in January 1971, originally on
14476-465: The UK and world media. More debts emerged as the year went on, and an independent report criticised the Board and the current and previous Fringe Directors for a failure of management and an inability to provide the basic service. The Board eventually decided that the post of "Director" (instituted in 1992 in lieu of "Fringe Administrator") would be abolished and replaced by a Chief Executive, to reinforce
14630-738: The United Kingdom in the Scottish independence referendum . Coogan endorsed the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 general election . He hosted a rally for Corbyn in Birmingham, saying: "The Tory tactic was to try to make this a choice between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, but this has backfired as people – and I readily admit to being one of them – have started to listen to what Jeremy Corbyn says rather than what other people have been saying about him." In November 2019, along with other public figures, Coogan signed
14784-474: The argument against press regulation was " morally bankrupt ". Coogan provided an eight-page witness statement to the Leveson Inquiry , and appeared at the inquiry on 22 November 2011 to discuss the evidence. He said he was there reluctantly representing a lot of celebrities who felt they could not speak out for fear of reprisals from the tabloid press. In March 2021, Coogan said "the tabloid press
14938-404: The audience to sympathise with him while laughing at him: "You know he's done the wrong thing, but at least he's got some humanity. It's impossible to sustain 90 minutes of good drama without investing in the character." Felicity Montagu , who plays Partridge's assistant, Lynn, felt he was vulnerable and loveable, and a good person "deep down". Partridge holds right-wing views. He is a reader of
15092-460: The bones of King Richard III . Coogan played Jimmy Savile in the BBC One series The Reckoning (2023). Coogan said the decision to play Savile was "not one I took lightly", and that the script "tackled a horrific story which – however harrowing – needs to be told". Despite the controversy surrounding the series, Coogan's performance was mostly praised by critics, and he was nominated for
15246-410: The character all over again." Coogan said they chose the web format because "it was a bit underground, a low-key environment in which to test the character out again. And the response was so good, we realised there was more fuel in the tank." In his 2015 autobiography, Coogan wrote that he felt Mid Morning Matters was "the purest, most mature and funniest incarnation of Partridge", which he credited to
15400-480: The comedian Stan Laurel in the 2018 biographical film Stan & Ollie , alongside the American actor John C. Reilly , who played Oliver Hardy . Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Coogan "slips neatly into the role" and added, "Coogan and Reilly not only excel at creating convincing impressions of one of the most famous comic teams of the last century, but they do an uncanny job of recreating
15554-460: The director Michael Winterbottom on films such as 24 Hour Party People (2002) . He said he did not want to say goodbye to Partridge, and that "as long as I can do my other things, that, to me, is the perfect balance". In 2020, he said that though he had once tired of Partridge, he had now become "a battered, comfortable old leather jacket". Partridge returned in 2010 in a series of YouTube shorts, Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge , as
15708-547: The early 1950s. The first one was the New Drama Group's After The Show , a series of sketches taking place after Donald Pleasence 's Ebb Tide , in 1952. Among the talent to appear in early Fringe revues were Ned Sherrin in 1955, and Ken Loach and Dudley Moore with the Oxford Theatre Group in 1958. Due to many reviewers only being able to attend Fringe events late night after the official festival
15862-404: The enterprise lost £28,000, and in 1983 there were further criticisms related to over-charging, over-crowding and inadequate facilities. The Circuit was not repeated, but it had demonstrated the potential for temporary venues at the Fringe, which are now a familiar sight. Even with the rise of super venues, there was still theatre done on a shoestring, but several cultural entrepreneurs had raised
16016-461: The established Edinburgh Book Festival and Fringe manager Kath Mainland was appointed in February 2009 to stabilise the situation, becoming the Fringe's first Chief Executive. Comedy finally surpassed theatre as the biggest section of the programme in 2008, with 660 comedy entries to 599. In 2009, theSpaceUK launched their multi-space complex at the Royal College of Surgeons . In 2011,
16170-553: The feature film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013). In 2019, Partridge returned to the BBC with This Time with Alan Partridge , a spoof of magazine shows such as The One Show , followed by an Audible podcast in 2020 and a touring show in 2022. Coogan said Partridge began as a "one-note" character, but slowly became more complex and empathetic. While the writers use Partridge to satirise bigotry and privilege, they also aim to create empathy. Critics have praised Partridge's complexity, realism and pathos . Vanity Fair called him
16324-646: The film industry was temporarily erected outside the Forum in Norwich; Partridge's official Twitter account released a statement endorsing the statue. In October 2021, a fan convention at the Mercure Norwich Hotel was attended by more than 250 people. "Accidental Partridge", an unofficial Twitter account which collects quotes reminiscent of Partridge's speech from real media figures, had attracted 144,000 followers by May 2014. In August 2024, Lynn Faces ,
16478-624: The film, Coogan plays a fictional, womanising version of himself. The first film that Coogan co-wrote with Henry Normal was The Parole Officer , in which he also acted alongside Ben Miller and Lena Headey . He has an uncredited cameo in Hot Fuzz , scripted by Shaun of the Dead writers Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright . He also starred in the Night at the Museum trilogy in which he played Octavius,
16632-427: The fool. More Malvolio and less Frank Spencer ." The Gibbons brothers felt that by the time of Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge , when Partridge is working for an even smaller radio station, he is more at peace with himself and that his lack of self-awareness saves him from misery. Iannucci said that Partridge stays optimistic because he never sees himself as others see him, and that despite his failings he
16786-567: The formation of the Festival Fringe Society. The push for such an organisation was led by Michael Imison , director of Oxford Theatre Group. A constitution was drawn up, in which the policy of not vetting or censoring shows was set out, and the Society produced the first guide to Fringe shows. Nineteen companies participated in the Fringe in that year. By that time it provided a "complete... counter-festival programme" although efforts were still being made to gain publicity through
16940-539: The glitches on its first few dates: "When Steve Coogan first brought this show to Nottingham last month, the reviews were poor... the intervening weeks have made a big difference, and last night's audience at the Trent FM Arena went home happy. More please, and soon." In 2008, BBC Worldwide bought a 25% stake in the production company. It did not offer the largest sum, but was chosen by Coogan and Normal owing to their previous work with and strong connection with
17094-474: The host of a digital radio show with a new character, Sidekick Simon ( Tim Key ). The series was later broadcast by Sky Atlantic . Coogan wrote it with the brothers Neil and Rob Gibbons , who submitted scripts to his company Baby Cow Productions . The Gibbons brothers have co-written every Partridge project since. According to Neil, Coogan "invited us in, our sensibilities chimed ... I think we were like two pairs of fresh eyes, and Steve seemed to fall in love with
17248-687: The manor house Ovingdean Grange in Ovingdean until 2017, when it was advertised for sale at £3.25 million. As of 2022, Coogan has lived in Barcombe , in the Lewes District of East Sussex . Coogan married Caroline Hickman in 2002 and they divorced in 2005. He entered rehab for personal issues. He dated model China Chow for three years. In March 2011, he was guest editor for Loaded , where he met and began dating glamour model Loretta "Elle" Basey. They were together until 2014. He has
17402-582: The more formal International Festival became of mutual benefit. The artistic credentials of the Fringe were established by the creators of the Traverse Theatre , John Calder , Jim Haynes and Richard Demarco , in 1963. While their original objective was to maintain something of the Festival atmosphere in Edinburgh all year round, the Traverse Theatre quickly and regularly presented cutting-edge drama to an international audience at both
17556-424: The name "Fringe" was still not yet in regular usage. By that year, the Fringe was attracting around a dozen companies, and a meeting was held to discuss creating "a small organisation to act as a brain for the Fringe", or what The Scotsman called an "official unofficial festival". A first attempt was made to provide a central booking service in 1955 by students from the university, although it lost money, which
17710-502: The new ticket office. Its current headquarters are at 180 High Street. Acts included The Jim Rose Circus , who performed in 2008, and Tokyo Shock Boys who performed in 1994. The Fringe Club ceased operation in 2004, but various venues still provide "the Best of the Fest" and similar. A computerised booking system was first installed in the early 1990s, allowing tickets to be bought at
17864-469: The number of companies performing rose from 182 to 494, and new venues such as St Columba's in Newington came on board. Moffat also expanded the street performance aspect and brought in sponsorship deals, particularly local breweries. In this way, the Fringe ascended to its current position as the largest arts festival in the world. This was a deliberate policy by Moffat, who found it difficult to promote
18018-511: The partially improvised BBC2 sitcom The Trip , in which he and Brydon tour northern restaurants. The movie was followed in 2014 with the film, The Trip to Italy , about him and Brydon taking a food-tasting trip through Italy, followed by The Trip to Spain (2017) and The Trip to Greece (2020). He worked again with director Winterbottom in The Look of Love (2013), about '50s porn-king, Paul Raymond . Partridge returned in 2010 with
18172-503: The phone hacking scandal. He has said that the press, by persistently intruding in his private life, has effectively made him "immune" to further attack as his "closet is empty of skeletons". Coogan favours reform and regulation of the British press. He became a prominent figure in the News International phone hacking scandal as one of the celebrities who took action against the British tabloids in light of these events. He
18326-694: The production company Baby Cow Productions with Henry Normal . In 2013, he co-wrote, produced, and starred in the film Philomena , which earned him nominations at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs , and at the Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture . Coogan has also played dramatic roles, including Marie Antoinette (2006), What Maisie Knew (2012), The Look of Love (2013) and The Dinner (2017). For his portrayal of Stan Laurel in Stan & Ollie (2018), he earned
18480-588: The production was fraught; however, he was proud of the finished film. Coogan produced, co-wrote and co-starred in the drama film Philomena (2013). He portrayed the journalist Martin Sixsmith , who helps a former nun Philomena Lee , played Judi Dench , find her son after decades long absence. The film received acclaim and was a financial success. The Variety critic Justin Chang wrote, "The two leads make decent sparring partners and better allies, and Coogan
18634-562: The programme, and the one that in modern times has the highest public profile, due in part to the Edinburgh Comedy Awards . The Festival is supported by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society , which publishes the programme, sells tickets to all events from a central physical box office and website, and offers year-round advice and support to performers. The Society's permanent location is at
18788-458: The return of some of his old characters including Paul Calf and Alan Partridge. Reviews of the tour were mixed. Much of the criticism focused on the apparent unrehearsed quality of some of the performances and on Coogan's nervous stage presence. Chortle comedy guide described it as "most definitely a show of two-halves: the superlative Alan Partridge plus a collection of characters that are not only less successful, but woefully less funny". As
18942-709: The right-wing newspaper the Daily Mail , and supported Brexit in line with the Daily Mail position. Coogan, who is left-wing , described Partridge as a Little Englander , with a "myopic, slightly philistine mentality". 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." He aimed to use humour to hold privileged and powerful people accountable. Earlier versions of Partridge were more bigoted, but
19096-585: The same reaction. How did I not know about this guy?" IndieWire wrote that "before there was Ron Burgundy for the Yanks, there was Alan Partridge for the Brits". Brian Logan wrote in the Guardian that though Partridge was created as a satire of the "asinine fluency of broadcaster-speak" of the time, his development as a character study gave him a timeless quality. Another Guardian journalist, John Crace , wrote: "By rights, Alan Partridge should have been dead as
19250-434: The same year, his brother Kevin acquired nine O-levels at the same school and took part in local and regional sports competitions, notably in basketball and cross country running. Coogan's sister trained to be a teacher at the nearby Hopwood Hall College . As a family, it was assumed that all the children would become teachers. Coogan had a talent for impersonation and wanted to go to drama school, despite being advised by
19404-570: The satirical puppet show Spitting Image and providing voice-overs for television advertisements. He grew in prominence in the film industry in 2002, after starring in The Parole Officer and 24 Hour Party People . He continued to appear in films such as Around the World in 80 Days (2004), the Night at the Museum trilogy (2006-2014), Tropic Thunder (2008), Percy Jackson &
19558-433: The schooling of his child. Coogan has also been critical of the broadsheet press, saying they have colluded with the tabloids in the interests of selling newspapers. In 2005, he said " The Guardian tends to have its cake and eat it. It waits for the tabloids to dish the dirt and then it talks about the tabloids dishing the dirt while enjoying it themselves." He later gave credit to the same newspaper for its investigation of
19712-431: The set. The rushed production was difficult; Coogan and Iannucci disagreed on the script, morale was low, and there were problems with casting and funding. In his memoir, Coogan wrote that it was the hardest he had ever worked and the loneliest he had ever felt; however, he was proud of the finished film. Alpha Papa was acclaimed and opened at number one at the box office in the UK and Ireland. In 2015, Coogan co-presented
19866-413: The sort of people who are given jobs on TV." A second series was broadcast in 2021. In September 2020, Audible launched an Alan Partridge podcast, From the Oasthouse . It sees Partridge discussing topics such as relationships, family and the culture wars . Coogan said the podcast format was liberating, with more opportunity for nuance and less need to create punchlines to unite the audience. The podcast
20020-528: The staff at the News of the World ordered him to hack phones. This information was obtained by Coogan's lawyers on 26 August 2011. Interviewed on Newsnight on 8 July 2011, Coogan said he was "delighted" by the closure of the News of the World and said it was a "fantastic day for journalism". He said the idea of press freedom was used by the tabloids as a "smokescreen for selling papers with tittle-tattle" and said
20174-553: The stakes to the point where a venue like Aurora (St Stephen's Church, Stockbridge ) could hold its head up in any major world festival. However, in 1982, 24% of the Fringe was housed in The Circuit/Assembly, both of which were being commercially marketed, and this attracted complaints, including from Traverse Theatre founder, Richard Demarco, who felt the Fringe should not have allowed either venue. By 1988, there was, according to former Fringe Administrator Michael Dale,
20328-418: The style of The One Show . In the series, Partridge stands in after the regular host falls ill. Coogan felt it was the right time for Partridge to return as he might represent the views of Brexit voters. Neil Gibbons said the world of live television had changed since Partridge's creation: "If someone fluffed a line or got someone's name wrong or said something stupid, it was mortifying. But nowadays, those are
20482-411: The time it was not recognised as such, this was the first Edinburgh Festival Fringe . This meant that two defining features of the future Fringe were established at the very beginning – the lack of official invitations to perform and the use of unconventional venues. Originally, these groups referred to themselves as the "Festival Adjuncts" and were also referred to as the "semi-official" festival. It
20636-470: The tour progressed and the problems were ironed out, reviews were very positive. Dominic Maxwell of The Times described the show as "twice as entertaining as most other comedy shows this year". Brian Logan of The Guardian awarded it four stars and described it as "shamelessly funny". Reviews such as the one from the Trent FM Arena exemplified how much the show had improved after dealing with
20790-454: The usual six-month ban for a further speeding offence by saying that his next TV series depended on his ability to drive; he was given a two-month ban and a £750 fine. He has been open about his struggle with depression and has said he "will always be a recovering addict". He gained Irish citizenship in March 2023 and described himself as "half-Irish" in an interview. Coogan has supported both
20944-469: The writers found there was more humour in having him attempt to be progressive . For example, in I, Partridge , he stresses his friendship with the gay television presenter Dale Winton . Coogan said Partridge was aware of political correctness : "In the 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." Partridge lives in Norwich in
21098-433: Was "the perfect broadcaster for these times, when there are 24 hours to fill and dead time is a crime—he has a unique capacity to fill any vacuum with his own verbal vacuum". Baynham said that although Partridge is unpleasant, the writers of I'm Alan Partridge tried to build empathy: "You're watching a man suffer but also at some level identifying with his pain." For Alpha Papa , Coogan wanted Partridge to be heroic and for
21252-589: Was 26.6% of shows. Established in 1947 as an unofficial offshoot to (and on the "fringe" of) the Edinburgh International Festival , it takes place in Edinburgh every August. The combination of Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival has become a world-leading celebration of arts and culture, surpassed only by the Olympics and the World Cup in terms of global ticketed events. It
21406-497: Was a watershed for comedy at the Fringe too. It was the first year of the Perrier Awards , which ran until 2005 and are now known as the Edinburgh Comedy Awards . The alternative comedy scene was also beginning to take shape. Previously, comedy at the Fringe had taken the form of student revues. Now stand-up was becoming a feature. According to Alexei Sayle , "The Fringe then was entirely University revues and plays; there
21560-751: Was also chairman of the Catholic Grammar Schools Parents Association, and protested against the proposal by the Salford Roman Catholic Diocesan Schools Commission to close the sixth form (which ultimately did not happen). Coogan attended St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School and Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School . Coogan passed two O-levels in 1983, which were likely re-take exams, aged 17. In 1984 he gained 4 A-levels : English Literature, British Government and Politics, Art, and General Studies. In
21714-487: Was blamed on those who had not taken part. In 1956, the famous actor Donald Wolfit performed the solo show The Strong Are Lonely . This was not part of the International Festival, yet nor was it in the Fringe Programme, leading him to question the value of the "Fringe": "Away with the Fringe. To an artist in the theatre there is no such thing as a fringe of art." Formal organisation progressed in 1959, with
21868-494: Was carefully scripted rather than improvised. Further series were released in September 2022 and October 2023. In April 2022, Coogan began a UK Alan Partridge tour, Stratagem , in which Partridge gave a motivational talk and addressed topics such as identity politics and culture wars . The Guardian critic Brian Logan gave the show four out of five, praising its "rich comedy of physical awkwardness" and writing that Partridge
22022-435: Was finished, the Fringe came to be seen as being about revues. It was a few years before an official programme for the Fringe was created. John Menzies compiled a list of shows under the title "Other Events" in their omnibus festival brochure, but it was printer C. J. Cousland who was the first to publish a listings guide, in 1954. This was funded by participating companies and was entitled "Additional Entertainments", since
22176-491: Was made aware by his phone service provider of "possible anomalies" on his phone in 2005 and 2006. In 2010, Coogan's legal firm obtained a partially redacted version of Glenn Mulcaire 's hacking notebook by a court order which showed Coogan had been targeted and his personal information was in the possession of Mulcaire. Mulcaire was forced by the High Court of Justice to disclose to Coogan's legal team who amongst
22330-494: Was not a single piece of stand-up comedy until me and Tony [Allen] arrived." Comedy began an ascent which would see it become the biggest section of the programme by 2008. Moffat resigned as the Fringe Society Administrator in 1981 and was succeeded by Michael Dale, who changed the programme layout and helped the Fringe consolidate. The following year, 1982, The Circuit became a prominent venue. Run by
22484-432: Was not until the following year, 1948, that Robert Kemp , a Scottish playwright and journalist, is credited with coining the title "Fringe" when he wrote during the second Edinburgh International Festival : Round the fringe of official Festival drama, there seems to be more private enterprise than before ... I am afraid some of us are not going to be at home during the evenings! The word "fringe" had in fact been used in
22638-536: Was not yet fully developed, much of the early years of the Fringe has gone unrecorded, except through anecdote. It did not benefit from any official organisation until 1951, when students of the University of Edinburgh set up a drop-in centre in the YMCA , where cheap food and a bed for the night were made available to participating groups. Late-night revues, which would become a feature of Fringes, began to appear in
22792-402: Was now "at the centre of his own thriving multi-platform metaverse". He noted that though Coogan had once tired of Partridge, he now "clearly takes pleasure in the performance". The Independent critic Louis Chilton gave it two out of five, finding its jokes obvious and dated and that Partridge did not work in a live format. In August 2022, Partridge joined the rock band Coldplay to perform
22946-565: Was now being worn by hipsters ... The waters of what was uncool became so muddied that it was difficult to find anything looked bad and not just ironic. It even made me question if Alan was still relevant." As Coogan aged, the makeup he wore in earlier performances became unnecessary. Vanity Fair described Alan Partridge as a national treasure and a cherished part of British comedy, alongside characters such as Basil Fawlty and Mr. Bean ". According to Variety , in Britain "Alan Partridge
23100-530: Was raised Roman Catholic in what he described as a " lower-middle or upper-working class" family which emphasised the values of education. His elder brother Martin is a musician, while his younger brother Brendan is a presenter. Coogan's mother is Irish and hails from County Mayo , while his father was born in Manchester to Irish parents Margaret (from County Kilkenny ) and Thomas Coogan (a tailor from County Cork ), who had settled there shortly before
23254-457: Was suspended along with all of the city's other major summer festivals. This came as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in the early months of the year, with concerns of spreading the virus any further. The 2021 festival took place during 6–30 August 2021, though it was much reduced in size, with 528 shows in person and 414 online. The 2022 festival took place from 5–29 August 2022 and marked
23408-504: Was used by the hostel booking site Hostelworld as the basis of a 2015 television advert with the boxer Chris Eubank . In 2020, Coogan said that many of Partridge's inane ideas had since become real programmes, making satire more difficult. Partridge has become associated with the city of Norwich . An art exhibition inspired by Partridge opened in Norwich in July 2015. In September 2020, an unofficial statue of Partridge created by sculptors in
23562-410: Was voted best TV comedy character and Coogan best male comedy actor, and a scene from I'm Alan Partridge in which Partridge goes to the home of an obsessive fan was voted best comedy scene. In 2021, Rolling Stone named I'm Alan Partridge the 52nd-greatest sitcom, writing that it had taken Partridge "from a parody of celebrity-presenter smarm to one of the greatest Britcom characters ever". In 2022,
23716-705: Was winner of the Perrier Award for best show at the 1992 Edinburgh Fringe. He has won numerous awards for his work in TV including British Comedy Awards , BAFTAs and The South Bank Show award for comedy. In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In 2005, a poll to find the Comedians' Comedian saw him being voted amongst the top 20 greatest comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Edinburgh Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as
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