Alan Partridge is conduit to talk about taboo' subjects, says Steve Coogan

Alan Partridge returns to the BBC in How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge), returning to the UK after promotional work in Saudi Arabia and attempting to rebuild his career through a documentary about mental health. The veteran presenter is revived when there is something to say about UK culture and society. The character functions as a conduit for addressing popular culture and difficult or taboo topics, allowing more honest illumination of anxieties. The series contrasts small-mindedness and prejudice with accidental truth-telling and resonates with Gen Z, who recognise older generations in the character.

"The hapless TV character is returning to the BBC in How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge) a new series featuring him returning to the UK having been doing promotional work in Saudi Arabia and attempting to rebuild his career through a documentary about mental health. It has been four years since Partridge last appeared on the BBC. Coogan says he and his co-writers bring the veteran presenter back when there is something to say about UK culture and society."

"You [can] say things through the character or talk about stuff that's potentially problematic, Coogan said, adding: It's good to talk about stuff that is seen as taboo, not just to be provocative, but because you actually can, weirdly, shine a light on it and be more honest about it in some ways, by using Alan. It feels relevant to do stuff which gives people anxiety. It's a way of talking about stuff that people can't normally talk about. It's a sort of Trojan horse."

"He continued: We highlight things by showing Alan's small mindedness and prejudice, but sometimes he stumbles accidentally on shining a light on something, and can say that the emperor's not wearing any clothes [and] say the unsayable. Speaking at a screening of the new show in London, Coogan also said Partridge who first appeared in 1991 Radio 4 series On the Hour was now popular with gen Z, especially on TikTok, because, that generation sees their parents in Partridge."

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