BBC to broadcast Alan Partridge documentary
- BBC Two is to broadcast Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How And Whom? this Christmas
- The documentary will feature new interviews and also previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage
- The character is due to return in 2018 for a brand new sitcom series in which Alan is re-hired by the BBC
BBC Two is to broadcast Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How And Whom?, a documentary about the character played by Steve Coogan.
The one-off special is to be broadcast this Christmas, ahead of a new sitcom starring the character coming to BBC One in 2018.
The BBC say: "It has been a quarter of a century since a little known sports reporter was given his own radio chat show by the BBC. Two radio series, five TV series, four specials, two books and one movie later, Alan Partridge has an unrivalled place in the comedy pantheon.
To celebrate Alan's return to his rightful home at the BBC in 2018, this retrospective documentary will look back at his journey from broadcaster caricature to the award-winning study of complexity and pathos that he has become."
The special will feature a new interview with Steve Coogan, plus those who worked with the character in his early days, including Armando Iannucci, Patrick Marber, Peter Baynham, Rebecca Front, David Schneider and Doon Mackichan.
Felicity Montagu who has played Lynn in a number of the Alan Partridge shows, and Phil Cornwell (Dave Clifton) and Simon Greenall (Michael) will also feature.
Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How And Whom? also features Sally Phillips (Sophie the receptionist), Tim Key (Sidekick Simon) and writers Neil and Rob Gibbons, who "inherited the Partridge mantle" and, alongside Coogan, "have taken the character to new heights, finding in each incarnation different ways of exploring Alan while being faithful to the character's legacy".
Excitingly for fans, the documentary will also feature "a wealth of never before seen archive footage". This is expected to include improv sessions, rehearsals and unseen out-takes.
The BBC explain: "This richly textured account of the craft involved in that early development and the ongoing story of how, through Coogan's virtuoso performance, Alan remains one of the most beloved comic creations of the last few decades.
"Through all these voices, archive material, and iconic clips from the shows themselves, the show will explore Alan's unprecedented cultural influence, his impact on the comedy landscape, and how the most entertainingly contemptible man in fictional light entertainment has become permanently embedded in the national vernacular."
Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How And Whom? will be broadcast this December as part of the BBC's Christmas line-up.
Details about the new Partridge sitcom are still being kept tightly under wraps, with not even the title of the show yet known. However it has been revealed that the storyline will see the BBC re-hire Alan "as a pro-Brexit voice". Further details are expected to be revealed in early 2018.