Watch I'm Alan Partridge

I'm Alan Partridge is a BBC sitcom created by Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci, and Peter Baynham. The show ran for two series and a Christmas special between 1997 and 2002. The series follows the everyday life of Alan Partridge, a fictional character played by Coogan. Alan is a middle-aged former BBC Radio Norwich presenter who has fallen from grace and is now working as a bookshop assistant and a presenter of a graveyard slot on local radio. The show primarily focuses on his attempts to revive his career and reputation, often with disastrous consequences.

Throughout the series, Alan's personality is revealed to be narcissistic, petty, and often toxic, with his prejudices and ignorance regularly causing conflicts with those around him. However, the character's tragicomic nature makes him a likable and relatable character as he desperately tries to cling to fame in the face of his own incompetence and lack of self-awareness.

One of the show's strengths is the supporting cast, who all play a pivoting role in the development of the character of Alan Partridge. Felicity Montagu plays Lynn, Alan's long-suffering personal assistant, who is responsible for taking care of all of Alan's personal needs and ensuring he doesn't get into too much trouble. Simon Greenall plays Michael, the security guard at the bookshop where Alan works, who becomes a regular character from series two and the voice of reason amidst the chaos.

Phil Cornwell and Barbara Durkin play Dave Clifton and Susan, two of Alan's fellow presenters at the local radio station whose personalities are equally as bizarre and cringe-worthy as Alan's. Sally Phillips plays Sophie, one of Alan's love interests, whose character becomes a source of endless frustration to Alan due to her rejection of his advances. Amelia Bullmore plays Sonia, Alan's Ukrainian girlfriend, who is introduced in the second series.

James Lance plays Ben, a young rival broadcaster whose career is on the rise and who serves as an interesting foil to Alan's character. David Schneider plays Tony Hayers, Alan's former boss at the BBC, who sacked him from his job and serves as a source of anxiety and insecurity for Alan throughout the series.

The series is known for its absurdist humor and witty writing, which was ahead of its time in its clever use of cringe comedy before it became popularized in later shows like The Office. It often satirizes British middle-class culture and the media industry, with the character of Alan serving as a critique of the banal and shallow nature of celebrity culture.

Overall, I'm Alan Partridge is an iconic British sitcom that is both hilarious and insightful. Steve Coogan's performance as Alan Partridge is unforgettable, with his character's catchphrases and mannerisms ingrained in British pop culture. The show was recently revisited in 2019 with the show This Time with Alan Partridge. Even with its new format, the show continues to maintain its iconic sense of humor that made it a cult classic.

I'm Alan Partridge is a series that ran for 2 seasons (12 episodes) between November 3, 1997 and on BBC