I remember the day I discovered Alan Partridge many many years ago on The Day Today and thinking he was absolutely hilarious, but also a bit too close to what local East Anglia presenters are actually like. I wasn't a massive fan of Knowing Me Knowing You, but I'm Alan Partridge and Mid Morning Matters remain up there with my most favourite comedies, and ones that I can watch over and over again.
So I was extremely pleased to hear that this spoof memoir was being released (particularly as I loved the episode of I'm Alan Partridge where he is desperately trying to promote his book at Norwich railway station, before having to have them all pulped!). The book had me in stitches straight away. it follows Alan's supposedly difficult childhood, where he was sometimes abandoned for 3/4 of an hour!) to his first steps into the world of radio, the rise and fall of his TV career and of course his current role at North Norfolk Digital (as well as his time at the Linton Travel Tavern and his imaginatively titled Classic House). The book reminded me of all the fantastically funny episodes of his show that I loved so much.
As well as being hilarious, the book is also well written - so you actually believe that Alan spent time in his caravan or at the Linton Travel Tavern penning this. It is full of pendantic little footnotes, which are so Alan, as well as a totally unnecessary song tracklist, which in any other book is just annoying, but here it reinforces the pinickityness of Alan! And of course, the some choices are ridiculous and remind us that as a radio DJ, he in fact as very little musical knowledge. On top of this the local Norwich and Norfolk detail is excellent, as someone who is quite familiar with the city and spends many weekends in North Norfolk, this adds to the enjoyment
I absolutely loved this book and it certainly lived up to the sitcom before it. If you haven't read this so out and buy it now - go on!!!!!
5/5
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