Steve Coogan says ‘part of me wants to kill off Alan Partridge’ after playing him for 34 years – as he prepares to revive inept broadcaster for new mental health mockumentary

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Steve Coogan has considered ending the character of Alan Partridge, whom he’s portrayed for over three decades.

I’ll never forget when this actor truly broke through – it was through his incredible character, Partridge. He originally came up with Partridge way back in 1991, when he was working with the brilliant Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris on the radio show *On The Hour*. It was clear even then that this character – a bit clueless and always saying the wrong thing – was something special, and it quickly made him a star everyone knew.

He’s set to bring back his character in a new BBC show called ‘How Are You? It’s Alan Partridge.’ The show is a comedy mockumentary focusing on mental health in Britain.

But Coogan, 59, admits he frequently considers putting an end to the legendary character. 

He jokingly suggested to The Mirror that he’d like to end his character with a deliberately terrible storyline – something so outlandish it would ‘jump the shark.’ He even proposed a ridiculous scene where his character fights and kills Alan Partridge, only to be killed himself.

‘Don’t end with dignity on a high – just drive it off a cliff.’ 

Steve Coogan has played Alan Partridge for over forty years, appearing in numerous TV shows, specials, documentaries, films, and most recently, his podcast, *From The Oasthouse*.

However, the actor confessed he was worried when he began, without realizing it, to wear the character’s famously modest clothing even when not filming – he even started wearing one of the character’s shirts in his personal time.

He remembered it clearly: it wasn’t just a shirt that looked alike-it was the exact same one, made by the same company and in the same size.

‘I looked at it hanging up and thought, “I guess it’s happened.”

In February, Coogan revealed that the character he first created in 1991 for the radio show *On The Hour* – a parody of current affairs programs hosted by the made-up Alan Partridge – eventually became a burden to him.

Oh my gosh, he *said* this on the Dish podcast! It’s everything! Apparently, there was a point where playing Steve Coogan’s Partridge felt like a burden, can you believe it?! But now? He does it because he *wants* to! He chooses to be Partridge, it’s not something he feels forced to do anymore. It’s just… amazing to hear him say that. It means so much that he still loves the character as much as we do!

‘I’m doing some stuff at the moment, and it does make me laugh, so… I make notes in my phone.

I just had a silly thought while on the train and couldn’t help but smile. The image of a partridge popped into my head, and I quickly saved it to my phone – all by myself.

I often find myself thinking about what my friend Alan would think of something I see, even now, thirty years after he’s gone. It’s become a habit, almost like an automatic reaction.

Steve Coogan is best known for playing Alan Partridge, a role that has won him six awards, including a BAFTA in 2017 for his performance in ‘The Scissored Isle’.

His new Partridge series is already receiving praise, and it’s likely to gain even more attention, as it humorously tackles the topic of mental health.

Coogan explained that the man believes discussing a significant topic will get him back on television. He added that they are currently in the process of editing the footage, saying, ‘We’re editing it now, so…’

Even though Coogan knows the character incredibly well, he admits he still finds it hard to understand Partridge’s often inappropriate behavior and complete unawareness of what’s considered politically correct.

It’s really too suggestive to put into words – some of it is just something you have to hear for yourself.

Sometimes things are so outrageous they’re funny. He says things I wouldn’t dream of saying – things nobody could really say with a straight face.

The audience understands this character – he’s not malicious, just a bit clueless, but he’s trying. He’s a fool, but sometimes he voices thoughts people already have, making it surprisingly satisfying to watch. It’s a little bit of a release to hear what others are thinking but are afraid to say.

I can also use humor to make fun of people I dislike. For example, I often have Alan pretend that someone he doesn’t get along with is his best friend.

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2025-09-25 11:19