Alan Partridge wouldn’t join Nigel Farage’s Reform party, say creators

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Alan Partridge wouldn’t join Nigel Farage’s Reform party, say creators

The writers behind the character of Alan Partridge have cast doubt on the idea that he would join the Reform Party.

The gaffe-prone TV and radio host has been played by Steve Coogan since 1991 across various media, and returns in How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), a series where he returns to Britain following a brief work trip in Saudi Arabia, and investigates the nation’s mental health.

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Neil and Rob Gibbons have co-written the series with Coogan, and recently spoke to The Telegraph about the political inclinations of Partridge, who has often displayed a distrust of left wing politics. They were asked if, given the struggles of the current Conservative Party, he would be tempted to shift his support to right wing party Reform.

“Possibly” Neil replied. “When we talked about what would Alan’s views on Brexit be before, it is quite easy to imagine that he would be drawn in by the everyman-ness of Nigel Farage, but when he gets to know him a bit more think, ‘Actually this guy’s a bit of a d—’. Alan jumps to conclusions, and then suddenly it sort of sours. It can be hard to pin down what his views are, because he’s ruled so much by the vagaries and whims of his character and his mood at any given moment that that trumps things like ideal and principle.”

He continued: “He’s the sort of person that would probably be drawn to the branding and the pints and the nice silk tie of it, but then if he got to a meeting and it was more working class types, I think he’d be like ‘I’m not sure about this’. That’s why he was very much a Cameron/Osborne type, and he liked the way that they were perceived nationally. Whereas if he went to Tory events and found himself surrounded by other public school people, he wouldn’t like that either. He’s a badge-wearing follower of politics, rather than the sort to turn up at the meetings.”

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How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) will premiere this Friday (October 3) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. The announcement of the trailer was combined with a spoof crowdfunder.

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