You remember that long running BBC show, That's Life which starred Esther Rantzen? Well, I remember watching the very last series in 1994, when I was but 11, and I am 100% positive that Alan Partridge co-presented at least one episode of it. I'd seen the character on TV earlier that year in The Day Today and was aware of the character through that.
I once found a reference to this appearence on the net, but can't find it now. Does anyone else remember him on this show?
Coogan once said that he partly based the character of Partridge on Adrian Mills, who was in "That's Life" from 1985 until 1994, so I suspect that you may be getting mixed up. Being such a massive Partridge fan who has seen and heard everything that's featured him, I can honestly say that I have never seen such an appearance. However, he did appear on Clive Anderson's chat show "Clive Anderson Talks Back" (which was absolutely hilarious) and this can be found here - http://youtube.com/watch?v=YiHWmgf31iA
Therefore, I suspect that's where you got mixed up. Also, it's worth noting that Partridge looks strangely similar to Adrian Mills - http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/51771531.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19390335F8FA9CA92A6D1F871846AB19A8836CF19420219AD79
But as I say, Coogan partly based the character on Mills.....I guess with appearance as well as persona.
Hmmm, I can only assume that in one episode of That's Life they jokingly referred to Adrian Mills as Alan Partridge. He would have been in the public consciousness then, so it would have been possible. Also, it's the sort of thing That's Life would do.....
Me and my sister used to always laugh at that Adrian Mills bloke, as he used to always blink really slowly, at the end of every sentence. The fact that he looked like a little porcelain doll made this extra funny.
I'd always thought Partridge was based (at least a bit) on BBC sports reporter Garry Richardson. Though I have no evidence for this.
There's definitely a similarity in looks between Mills and Partridge - could certainly have imagined Alan being one of 'Esther's Boys'. However, he seems to be fragments of various presenters unintentionally or not. I can see some of Gary Lineker, John Motson, Gary Richardson and Richard Madeley in there, and probably more. Just shows what a great creation he was and how flawed a lot of TV/Radio presenters actually are.
If you see clips of Adrian Mills he IS Partridge. It's bizarre.
He must be the biggest influence - although in his early incarnations on On The Hour he's very John Motson (vocally).