Good numbers for Alan Partridge and Warren

Both Alan Partridge’s long-awaited return to the BBC and new Martin Clunes sitcom Warren boosted BBC One’s audience last night.

Steve Coogan’s creation attracted 3.3million viewers at 9.30pm, ahead of the 3.1million that slot normally averages.

While in the half-hour preceding it, Warren attracted 3.8million, again up on the 3.5million average.

Partridge performed particularly well with 16-24-year-olds and wealthier AB viewers, trade website Broadcast reports, based on overnight figures – an audience who are likely to contribute to more catch-up viewers too.  

This Time attracted largely positive reviews from the critics, with five stars from four national newspapers 

In The Guardian, Lucy Mangan said: ‘After half an hour in [Alan's] appalling company, you'll be limp from laughter, loathing, panic and despair.’

The Times reviewer Chris Bennion wrote: 'Even those with an aversion to Alan would have admired this spot-on One Show spoof,’

Mark Monahan in The Telegraph called it a ‘sublimely excruciating return for a disastrously bad broadcaster… as funny as anything he has ever done’ and The i’s  Sarah Hughes called it ‘a magnificent return’

In an earlier review, Chortle hailed it ‘a triumphant return’ with a  four-star write-up.

However, the tabloids were less kind, with the Sun’s Ally Ross calling it a ‘lame’ and a ‘pile-up of jokes that generally aren't worth the effort of a second viewing’ and The Mirror’s Ian Hyland saying the show was more suited to "Telly types and Twitter" than a BBC One audience. Ironically enough that opinion came on Twitter.

Despite getting the bigger audience, Warren was slated with one-star reviews in the Daily Telegraph, The i, Chortle and two stars in The List.  

Only the Daily Mail enjoyed it, with Christopher Stevens saying: ‘There's no political message, no right-on characters, no urban edge. There are, however, plenty of straightforward laughs.’

It concluded: ‘If you still chuckle at repeats of George And Mildred, you'll enjoy Warren’ - which is apparently a compliment.

Published: 26 Feb 2019