The BBC has announced Steve Coogan will step back into his comedic role as Alan Partridge.
Documentary series And Did Those Feet... with Alan Partridge will follow the broadcasting character as he makes a comeback to Britain after spending a year in Saudi Arabia.
However, not everyone is pleased with the news, and some have criticised the announcement, accusing actor Coogan of “flogging a dead horse”.
After a BBC account shared the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, it received several disgruntled responses.
One penned: “Let's hope the writing is significantly better than that horrific live show he toured the other year. That was comfortably the worst Partridge material ever made.”
“Absolutely classic character, but it feels like flogging a dead horse at this stage,” a second admitted.
Steve Coogan is set to reprise his role as Alan Partridge
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Another agreed: “Partridge reboots this every couple of years, it's 90s humour that should be left in the 90s, is he that skint he's regurgitating it to pay a tax bill per chance?”
“Not sure there will be a second series,” a fourth commented while another asked: “Hasn't he flogged this horse enough by now?”
However, some disagreed and welcomed the announcement, with one X user arguing: “New Partridge is just what’s needed in the world right now.”
Another also jumped to Coogan’s defence: “I always say something like this when there’s a new Partridge thing. But praise be!” (sic)
Comedic character Alan Partridge will be making a comeback to the BBC
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Coogan, in character as Partridge, released a statement to coincide with the announcement that he was set to return to the Beeb.
He said: “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys extensive oil and natural gas reserves, but has also seen economic growth in other areas such as agricultural production, retail trade, construction, and transport.
“It directs some $69 billion to military expenditure each year. And yet despite all that, I somehow felt incomplete.”
Meanwhile, despite the backlash, the BBC’s Director of Comedy Commissioning, Jon Petrie, said of the series: “Alan Partridge is the most iconic comedy character in the UK.
Alan Partridge will return to the BBC soon
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Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge
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“The wonderful Steve Coogan and Neil & Rob Gibbons continue to innovate and create an even richer world for Alan to inhabit. This unflinching look at the state of the UK through Alan’s eyes promises to add more brilliance to the Partridge canon.”
A synopsis for the new show reads: “We follow Alan as he sets off on a quest to understand his funk and to share what he learns with the nation.
“And if he ends up being seen as a mental health champion for the middle-aged, who’s also a good fit to present other issues-led documentary strands, so be it.”
There will be six episodes of the series as Alan explores home and work life as well as relationships and nature.
