The Alan Partridge joke that caught BBC lawyer’s attention

Entertainment
13 Sep 2025 • 6:25 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Steve Coogan discussed his character Alan Partridge ahead of a new TV series, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), set to premiere next month.
  • Coogan mentioned that BBC lawyers initially objected to a fictional line where Alan claimed to have fought TV personality Noel Edmonds.
  • The comedian was left baffled by the BBC lawyer’s comments, stating: “How am I slandering someone by saying they had a fight in a car park with a fictional character?”.
  • He revealed that playing Alan provides a catharsis, allowing him to voice opinions he personally disagrees with.
  • The new series will see Alan return to the UK after a 12-month stint working in Saudi Arabia, airing on BBC One and iPlayer in October.

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