'Possibly the first documentary to address the issue of mental wellness'

Steve Coogan has begun filming the new Alan Partridge documentary series And Did Those Feet…

Shooting began last week in the South of England and, in character, Partridge said: ‘I’m delighted to follow the Daily Mail’s exclusive coverage of filming and their gallery of paparazzi-style images with my own press  release more or less confirming the details they’ve announced. All best, Alan.' 

The premise of this six-part series is that Alan is settling into life back in Norfolk after a year working in Saudi Arabia, ‘but the adjustment has left him with a deep sense of unease’.

Blurb for the show says: 'Seeing himself and  his homeland anew, there are pressing and frankly glaring questions he’d like to ask of himself and, on behalf of himself, of the country. 

‘One of the first - if not the first - documentary to address the issue of mental wellness, the six-part series follows the revered and beloved broadcaster on a quest to understand what’s going on, with Britain’s minds and his own. 

‘It’s a show that makes a statement that will create shockwaves: "I’m Alan Partridge, and I’m not OK."’

 Jon Petrie, the BBC’s director of comedy commissioning, said: ‘Steve Coogan and [his co-writers] Neil and Rob Gibbons have done it again. This look into the state of the nation (and Alan’s own psyche) through a unique lens – that of Alan Partridge – promises to further bolster the already iconic repertoire of the most legendary comedy character in the UK. This series will firmly cement Alan Partridge as a national treasure.’

The show is being made by Coogan’s production company Baby Cow, and broadcast details have not yet been announced. 

Published: 20 May 2024