I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan

By: Alan Partridge

Narrated by: Alan Partridge

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Journalist, presenter, broadcaster, husband, father, vigorous all-rounder – Alan Partridge – a man with a fascinating past and an amazing future. Gregarious and popular, yet Alan’s never happier than when relaxing in his own five-bedroom, south-built house with three acres of land and access to a private stream. But who is this mysterious enigma?

Alan Gordon Partridge is the best – and best-loved – radio presenter in the region. Born into a changing world of rationing, Teddy Boys, apes in space and the launch of ITV, Alan’s broadcasting career began as chief DJ of Radio Smile at St. Luke’s Hospital in Norwich. After replacing Peter Flint as the presenter of Scout About, he entered the top 8 of BBC sports presenters.But Alan’s big break came with his primetime BBC chat show Knowing Me, Knowing You. Sadly, the show battled against poor scheduling, having been put up against News at Ten, then in its heyday. Due to declining ratings, a single catastrophic hitch (the killing of a guest on air) and the dumbing down of network TV, Alan’s show was cancelled. Not to be dissuaded, he embraced this opportunity to wind up his production company, leave London and fulfil a lifelong ambition to return to his roots in local radio.

Now single, Alan is an intensely private man but he opens up, for the second time, in this candid, entertaining, often deeply emotional – and of course compelling – memoir, written entirely in his own words. (Alan quickly dispelled the idea of using a ghost writer. With a grade B English Language O-Level, he knew he was up to the task.)

He speaks touchingly about his tragic Toblerone addiction, and the painful moment when unsold copies of his first autobiography, Bouncing Back, were pulped like ‘word porridge’. He reveals all about his relationship with his ex-Ukrainian girlfriend, Sonja, with whom he had sex at least twice a day, and the truth about the thick people who make key decisions at the BBC.

A literary tour de force, I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan charts the incredible journey of one of our greatest broadcasters.

©2011 Alan Partridge (P)2011 HarperCollins

Critic reviews

"Legendary." ( The Guardian)

"Some of the UK’s finest comedy." ( The Telegraph)

"Coogan’s greatest creation." ( Daily Mail)

“I’m a massive Alan Partridge fan, and this is without a doubt the funniest book I’ve ever read. You’ll be laughing at something on every single page. Its worth downloading the audiobook, though, so you can listen to Alan reading it to you.” (Greg James, Heat Magazine)

Brilliant

Hilarious writing, great delivery by Coogan. Subversive satire, similar in tone to Stephen Colbert’s I Am America (And So Can You!), having fun with a ridiculous character while painting a picture of East Anglia and its surrounds that will be all the funnier if you’re already familiar with British institutions, culture, etc. Highly recommended.

Health warning: you will laugh aloud as you listen

I loved most of this book - a few chapters dragged - but overall a great laugh - a tonic. Such amazing imagination, satire, and sometimes just plain silliness. I listened as I took my daily walks and found that I was walking along the street laughing out loud, causing folks to look at me as if I had a screw loose.

Even Better Than "Bouncing Back!"

Would you listen to I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan again? Why?

Yes, until Alan gets his much deserved second series, this is the best way to enjoy more Partridge.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan?

Learning about Alan's heroic return after his crippling addiction to Toblerones.

Have you listened to any of Alan Partridge’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Refreshing to hear Alan's version of his life, instead of that impostor Steve Coogan's.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed so hard that the other train riders thought I was a sexual deviant.

Finali a kindred spirit!

Would you listen to I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan again? Why?

Yes, It is verry insightful. Alan is a delightful broadcaster and has a story worth telling

What did you like best about this story?

The personal stile and his abilaty to shift from past to present tence

What about Alan Partridge’s performance did you like?

he has the x factor.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I myself am also in broadcasting And it would be wonderful to have Alan on my show.thank you, Ivo Niehe, Amsterdam

aha

aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha aha ahhaa ahhaa is very good and shit

Literally laughing out loud during my commute.

I honestly thought this would be a serious biography of Steve Coogan. Up to now I mainly listen to biographies of comedians or musicians and a bit of fiction. I'm only 6 chapters in of 30+ but this really is hilarious if you're a fan of Alan Partridge. Highly recommended.

loved it

no other book has made me laugh out loud as much as this did. highly recommend!

Everything you wanted to know about Alan.

Steve really did a great job covering the whole Alan story. Extremely funny, dry and consistent with the Alan character. Will listen to this again at some point.

Ruddy Coogan only goes and does it again

Avid Partridge fans won’t be disappointed with Alan’s hysterical ramblings of fortunes and woes.
I am Certainly looking forward to the next chapter in AP’s life.

Listening from the start again

Some classic quotes and images, in one hand she had a cup of tea in the other she didn't.