He’s still got it.
Hype has been building for the return of Steve Coogan’s beloved character Alan Partridge to television this year, and tonight’s first episode of This Time with Alan Partridge did not disappoint.
I’m Alan Partridge hasn’t been on the air since 2002, but 17 years later, the magic is still there. In 2019, we join Alan as he hosts a morning show on the BBC alongside a younger female co-host (played by Susannah Fielding), in the style of The One Show.
One of the most spectacular sequences in tonight’s episode was Partridge awkwardly performing his No Hands Train Toilet Drill in front of his shocked colleague. The entire routine hearkens back to the Partridge of old, or David Brent’s finest moments. Seeing Alan say “fuck” before the fake watershed was also sure to have gotten a lot of laughs.
If you were on the fence about diving in to Partridge’s return, tonight’s episode will definitely have allayed your fears.
There was a huge response to social media which was overwhelmingly favourable… though some did appear to be confused by the character, and the awkward nature of the humour.
Alan Partridge’s Hands-Free Train Toilet Drill will revolutionise your life. #AlanPartridge #ThisTime pic.twitter.com/WVTXYPU4AF
— BBC Comedy (@bbccomedy) February 25, 2019
God that made me happy. Painfully happy. #AlanPartridge
— Shaparak Khorsandi شاپرک خرسندی (@ShappiKhorsandi) February 25, 2019
Out of the tweets I’m seeing on the #AlanPartridge hashtag, I’d say roughly 90% are from people enjoying it, and the rest are wrong.
— Ben Eaton (@b_eaton) February 25, 2019
Loved #Alanpartridge, especially the oil spill bits.
— Rhiannon L Cosslett (@rhiannonlucyc) February 25, 2019
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