Steve Coogan on Alan Partridge, The Trip and his most iconic TV moments | British GQ

In this edition of GQ Action Replay, actor and comedian Steve Coogan looks back on some of his most iconic TV and movie moments, including I Am Alan Partridge, Mid Morning Matters, The Trip, The Day Today, Philomena and Greed, and reflects on working with Armando Iannucci and Rob Brydon along the way.
DoP: Shane Appleton
Sound Recordist: Haresh Patel
Editor: Kieran Brett
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Steve Coogan on Alan Partridge, The Trip and his most iconic TV moments | British GQ
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Steve Coogan on Alan Partridge, The Trip and his most iconic TV moments | British GQ

[@BritishGQ]

Check out the full interview: www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/steve-coogan-characters

[@thegentleman4873]

British GQ The funniest part in his career was when he endorsed labour over two elections, He was detrimental to the causes of. Didn’t he also get off of a driving ban because he is a celebrity and said it would affect his work? What revolting double standards

[@kevcatnip7589]

AH little ottle museum

[@kevcatnip7589]

who is that COOGAN imitator ?? SEAN from the dancing show

[@TerryRobertson]

@@thegentleman4873 As Alan Partridge would say... "You're talking out of your arse!"

[@foxgutdaata]

Which sicko decided to mirror flip the footage? Coogan looks weird af. Hate when people do that.

[@aaronbower6819]

I take a sort of weird comfort from Steve still laughing at Alan Partridge in real life. I used to have this horrible feeling he resented the character as it's all he's remembered for - which is how he portrays it on The Trip

[@VambeefcoHorzey]

Nah. He seemed to at one point, but since the Gibbon bros have been on board he's been very enthusiastic.

[@adonisnetworks]

It's because Coogan has a bigger ego than Alan Partridge.. He hates that a daily mail 'racist' can be more popular than his own trueself , because he's truly is such an awful human being.

[@VambeefcoHorzey]

@@adonisnetworks Coogan certainly has a big ego, but he still very self-aware for a celebrity (watch The Trip and the MANY jokes at his expense. Or read an interview from the last 10 years). The Daily Mail is a total farce, albeit a disingenuous, deceitful and often dangerous one. The Mail is just holding onto their vendetta because Coogan (among many others) has called them out.

[@adamk1924]

Same here mate unreal

[@dbag3345]

@@VambeefcoHorzey By Season 2 of the show I'm pretty sure he was done. That's when he started working with Michael Winterbottom and getting a bit more serious.

[@AnP865]

Getting rid of canned laughter was a godsend for Steve Coogan and Alan Partridge. It allowed the character to get a lot more subtle and quick, and it's telling that in this video the Mid Morning Matters clip is the most replayed. Imagine that clip with canned laughter, none of the jokes would work, they'd be cut out to make space for the cheesy laugh track. Like Coogan says, it's tight, rehearsed, very intricate.

[@andrewpelechaty7634]

I watched "I'm Alan Partridge" recently and the canned laughter threw me off. I hated it at first but got used to it as the series went on.

[@B6kmd]

Steve is a British comedy legend! Done so much great stuff!

[@evegasse6999]

He's spot on about poverty and feminism. And about how great Tim Key is.

[@saltech3444]

Yeah, I once joked with my brother about political fundraisers going to the swankiest parts of Hollywood and saying you need to fundraise for a PAC to deal with sexism and racism. "Oh yes?" the chequebook would begin to open. "...And we want more egalitarianism" "What???" And the chequebook would swing shut :-D I'm not saying that sexism and racism are nice, it's just that I think it's a way for rich people to dodge the real issue in this world.

[@kurtlee3198]

mid morning matters is one of the best british comedies, for real, not sure what changed for Alan but i can go back to that anytime and cry laughing

[@jasewildheart]

Its excellent. Better than the recent one.. that looked like the one show. That felt a bit forced.

[@maryannemakes]

Tim key levels it up for me. The perfect duo.so subtle

[@amckeown]

Listening to Richard Madeley on the radio is like listening to a brand new episode of Mid Morning Matters every time.

[@sera2775]

MMM is my favourite epoch of partridge

[@SimonLloydGuitar]

Mid Morning Matters was sublime..Every line, every expression, every pause...peak Partridge.

[@neilgodfrey2669]

Nice to see him smile and laugh at his own clips. Genuine guy

[@gingerbill128]

mid morning matters is my favourite , i didn't see it till years later and loved it.

[@janinepyke4643]

I love how steve coogan laughs at himself as alan partridge. Such an amazing character ❤

[@stephenjones529]

Absolute genius, the voice of my youth, national treasure, thank God for Steve Coogan

[@mohsinrao4334]

Scenes from the Bureau will always be my top Coogan moments.

[@paulstroud2647]

I'm closing the Bureau! For an hour.

[@phillipjohno]

I never thought his career had flat lined before philomena but for him to think that and go in a completely different direction is brave.

[@BrennanYoung]

SC could afford to take some more tragic roles. I love his comic characters, but Philomena is wonderful. Most of the secondary characters in Partridge are also rather tragic. Especially Lynn and Simon. Was so happy to see Lynn returning on "This Time"

[@IrishGary1]

Partridge has to be the most consistently funny character to last decades..utterly love him

[@richardthomas4471]

Brilliant, simply brilliant.

[@LocoJunius]

I love that he's cracking up at his own content years on, that's how you know it's good!

[@davidkglevi]

Imagine how tired we Scandinavians are of "Scandi noir"...

[@susansheehan9726]

I can only imagine!!.

[@kop1986]

This is just the greatest creation in the history of comedy, Steve is just simply a genius

[@rossco12]

Steve Coogan is a genius and Alan Partridge is without doubt one of the funniest characters ever created! I do hope Steve sometimes in private behaves like Alan, quite often in my head the Partridge appears for an opinion or two 😂🤣😅

[@adamconstanza]

There's something about Steve Coogan's tv + films that make them so dam watchable! I dread to think how many times I've watched Alan Partridge and The Trip films. 💯

[@alanfurlong-drummer4419]

Brilliant I love Alan Partridge shows.

[@Johnboysmudge]

I love that he enjoys the clips just as much as us 😄

[@JonnyRollin]

Better than any talk show promos, a true comic actor, gives a personal insight into his own work and lovely to see him,laughing at the scenes we've been laughing at for years-Partridge is up there with Steptoe, Del Boy and Hancock,for real life comedy.

[@kevedwards]

I love how Steve is always crediting other people for the jokes.

[@BobGnarley.]

"This will put Norwich on the map" Why on earth would I want to do that? "Fair point"

[@olafpayne]

So good that he's finding them as funny as we do.

[@danorm87]

Thank you Steve I get Dan, Dan, Dan shouted at me to often 😂

[@MrPlannery]

They should have covered 24 hour party people. I bloody love that film. And the animated series "I am not an animal" which I believe I'm the only one who remembers.

[@maltesetony9030]

Love all of Coogan's stuff; Ricky Gervais, too.

[@terrytibbz6820]

On the note of local radio, on bbc radio 2 they had a phone in asking how people like to spend their bank holidays, somebody messaged in saying 'I'd like to go round Legoland with Sean Connery and then afterwards we'd go for a lovely lamb lunch in the centre of Windsor' the presenter read it out none the wiser to the fact that she was being trolled, goes to show the brilliance of the writing and how close to reality it is 😂😂

[@elarquitecto4514]

As others have said, it's nice seeing Steve laugh at his sketches. Though that "mustard" bit is kind of hilarious by itself due to how unexpected is was, and I'm happy that he found that one funny.

[@OlafProt]

3:50 OMG he's SO spot on. That doesn't seem to have gone away, either.

[@e2theoc]

LEGEND. Still waiting for Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank.

[@MinusCube]

Eimear O'Connor Me too.. it sort of almost got made: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3iqZoKeesijhbM

[@Autonova]

National treasure

[@Alex.1739]

Partridge is the greatest comedy creation of all time. Still hilarious after all this time. Improved with time too, the most recent output the best.

[@philyaboots1]

That was a breath of fresh air, it really was, Lovely stuff.

[@Sheza58]

Parole Officer, Saxondale, Stan and Ollie and This Time all really worthy of a mention.

[@Whysosadams]

How could you not look at 'the dinner party' great performance by coogan in that

[@toasterboy708]

Oh, my friggin god. Coogan talking about the 'Dan' scene.... The friggin 'Dan' scene!!!!!!

[@insertaverygenericnamehere]

philomena was a great film ❤

[@MaoistBanker]

Yes yes yes yes yessssssss

[@-M0LE]

That actor will forever be Tony Hares to me

[@paulaustinmurphy]

I wonder if the BBC will be interested in these programmes: 'Monkey Tennis" and 'Two Comedians on a Trip Showing Off'?

[@mariaconkerboy]

More of an ITV thing

[@borgus7401]

One the funniest and talented comedy actors on the planet as well as a principled, thoroughly decent chap.

[@jacobpaint]

I love that they left his parting thought in rather than getting him to say something else or editing it to finish on a light note... That said, you could make a very funny film about sweatshop workers - so long as you did it in a way where they benefited from the film.

[@rigsby1454]

Coogan laughing at HOT SAUCE makes me happy

[@GitsumSaus]

He has aged amazingly. The money probably helps, but you get the idea.

[@mrneutral8423]

GOAL.........AND ANOTHER.

[@ivorbacon3825]

Steve if you read this, I loved Alan Partridge in the 90s. All 3 series, but the recent BBC series was a bit hit and miss. But I loved the other characters you played, to be fair. Wish we could see that stuff again.

[@Chilliconcarnage]

This is great banter!

[@axeman14]

“Mustard...” 😂

[@christschinwon]

Noel Fielding certain got the Richmond voice from 'no one died'

[@kiltedjohn1000]

2:20 Back o the Nettttt !!!!

[@josmith2031]

him and lin a brill team 🤣🤣🤣⭐️

[@chillymonkeys7772]

Absolutle Genius. His new podcasts Oasthouse are so funny too

[@jonathanadnitt7704]

Why has this video been flipped, but the clips in the video are the right way round. Strange.

[@thebadradio5340]

Bulgarian team turned out 4th on 94 WFC, great times...

[@bengriffin1805]

Genius.

[@deformednutsack9886]

One of my all time favourite comedians Alan partridge is a genius character Dan the dagger man from Dagenham 😂

[@ianclarke5404]

Marvelous

[@user-tx5sw4hq1h]

Allllaaaaannnn partridge from the oasthouse! Just saying it's brilliant

[@t_h_e__l_i_g_h_t8938]

“…I’m talking to Domingo in Little Oakley.”

[@saltech3444]

I am never quite sure if the Partridge character is like Coogan revealing an actual side of his character - like Larry David with George Costanza - and might actually nod along with the character in agreement, or get annoyed if people see Partridge as a horrible person. It's great to see Coogan actually laughing at and enjoying Alan Partridge, the way a normal audience member would.

[@martinmowbray4304]

Coogan guardian reader.. there’s a shock ! 😂

[@JakeCoventry]

Why is the video flipped?

[@simbamasaku1]

I am more worried about coogan left side of his face. I hope he is ok

[@Wilss]

Might just be a case of Bells Palsy.

[@Samlowry27B-6]

@@DanielRed2 I thought thats what they had done. such an odd choice.

[@jj9749]

It's a mirror image I think

[@hotlunch4415]

Daniel Massey That’s an enormous relief, and also quite startling. Presumably Coogan sees himself in the mirror like this, and we see his regular image

[@simbamasaku1]

He didn't look like that in the mirror whilst doing. Rob Brydon little man in a box in the trip

[@torimac7931]

Love him as Pauline Calf

[@Marley999888]

I don't think anyone could tell you why Alan Partridge as a character soared like an osprey while all the others just came and went...maybe it's his work ethic...his painfully awkward social manner...or even just his fragile mental health...he is all of us amplified.Whatever it is that makes him so special I just know AP's out there right now doing a corporate gig in the North Norfolk Area donning his black Castrol jacket reminding everyone about 'Skirmish' the military-based general knowledge quiz show on digital cable channel Conquest.

[@davidkerr797]

Always liked pretty much all of his work, his characters and impressions. Apart from The Trip. Where the only impression he and Rob Brydon couldn't do, was two men who couldn't eat quietly. Made me feel queasy.

[@nezbit8989]

Very clever very funny and very talented, he’s brought so much laughter to me, just brilliant 🤩

[@TheJohnCooper]

Paul calf was his best character

[@stoodmars]

Are there 4 instalments in The Trip series? So far I’m only aware of 3 including the film

[@streetdaniel2010]

As a Dan 🙄 cheers Steve I get it all the time 🗣DAN DAN DAN

[@chrisherbert7637]

Weird that it would skip Knowing Me, Knowing You which is what made him popular in the first place.

[@karlos543]

Wasn't he going to clear off to another country if Conservative got in and Brexit happened?

[@paulmorphy6187]

The overwhelming message I got running through philomena was that 'Steve Coogan hates the press and the catholic church'

[@slythefamilydrone]

Paul Morphy reasonable

[@seanjosephhayes]

Paul Morphy As should anyone with common sense.

[@Charlie_Erwin]

"And another!" is one of my favourite comedy lines ever

[@andlidearmadta9680]

Eat my goal!

[@adamk1924]

Comedy genius

[@pcorcoran100]

He's got a foot like a traction engine

[@PrinceBarin77]

👍 Proof, if proof be need be...

[@garywilson3042]

An Dlí Dearmadta “kiss my face!”

[@bennystar29]

Love that Alan still makes Steve smile.

[@Pauldjreadman]

benny takes photo Your test stuff will make you laugh.

[@borismuller86]

I love how he can’t help acting a bit like Alan Partridge when he says how he’s bored of Scandinavian crime dramas.

[@DashDrones]

Alan was the peak of Coogan's career. Partridge was an absolute masterpiece.

[@forgive7449]

in 1975.....no one died

[@JoeWright30]

Don't smile Steve, you've broken your neck!

[@adderz8619]

Lyn, remove yourself from the theatre of conflict. What? Go and stand by the Yakults

[@garywilson3042]

Adderz “Get in Lyn!”

[@sr2172]

You're alright you!.....Argghhhr! How long did you put this in for Lynn? About 2 minutes? It's hotter than the sun!

[@hazandduck]

“8 minutes” is my go to Alan quote 😂

[@lucasm3879]

@@hazandduck Go give it to her 😆

[@Nefariousbig]

Mid Morning Matters is perfect Partridge, highlights all the finer details and little subtleties of the character. Tim Key is the perfect foil too.

[@dgbennet]

I agree. That and Scissored Isle are probably my favorite Partridges.

[@criticalbil1]

The first season is terrific. Especially King & Car. The second season... eeeehhhh... not so much.

[@jedman0]

@@dgbennet agreed! The purest forms of Partridge

[@morgsta54]

Agreed - MMM is elite

[@Alex.1739]

Agree. That was the Partridge pinacle.

[@leehargreaves7473]

Ruined the lives of Dans everywhere.

[@stephenphilpott6772]

Dannnnnnnnnn!!!!!

[@chescarino]

occasionally when i go in starbucks, i say my name is dan when they take my order, then wait a few shouts when my coffee is ready, just to amuse myself..

[@kingloser4198]

Dave got: "Hello? Is that Dave?"

[@leehargreaves7473]

@@chescarino Excellent work.

[@stephenphilpott6772]

@@chescarino I'm going to change my name to Dan when I use Starbucks just for the buzz of doing that.😂

[@alfino116]

This is Liquid Content!

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

Alfino some might say golden

[@okee9]

Some great banter

[@SuperBartman2000]

This is Liquid Comment!

[@vincelockyer]

Eat my content!

[@3rodox]

Disappointed this wasn't 2 hours long

[@paddymuppy]

So was your missus.

[@monstermunch4956]

Same

[@monstermunch4956]

@@paddymuppy LOOOOOOL

[@ReeceyBoy_4]

@@paddymuppy haha

[@henryblake2933]

i prefer the term streamlining

[@version736ha2]

I thought mid morning matters was as good as any early Partridge

[@smileyparto]

Can I shock you? I like the early Partridge despite what I said earlier.

[@tommohan273]

The genius in the timing of “mustard” is excellent

[@joshrogers1]

and the tone of his voice sounds like he’s getting up out of his chair after sitting in it for a week gets me every time

[@howdj]

As we say, too much mustard gets up your nose

[@tommohan273]

@@onZampie I think that someone already said mustard is part of the joke

[@johnrogstad1278]

Also, custard isn't a condiment. And really wouldn't be confused for a condiment.

[@nelsonr32]

That smirk when the caller said, “mustard” was classic. It must be great to have such a body of work that you forget it!

[@EchoDissolve]

It’s me on me, on Alan on Alan, on I on I, on Partridge on Partridge...

[@Breaksnbeats]

Classic MMM

[@ToeAndno]

Is that a loop?

[@Yung_Mango]

Knowing me knowing you!

[@mickypixie]

😂

[@63mckenzie]

I once heard an actual football commentator say, 'Ten minutes gone, and still no corners!' Better than any parody.

[@monstermunch4956]

Hahahahah

[@Yung_Mango]

Back of the net!

[@kurtlee3198]

"and he'd be winning the race if its wasnt for the car in front" murray walker has 1000's of em

[@Isleofskye]

I heard one say X Team scored against the run of play after 3 minutes :)

[@63mckenzie]

@@Isleofskye LOL

[@streetstruck8951]

Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank would have been a rather interesting watch.

[@HM-se1ig]

Arm wrestling with Chas and dave

[@andrewbuckley9935]

Monkey tennis forever

[@themadplotter]

They actually made that, its on youtube.

[@jmo2752]

@@themadplotter kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3iqZoKeesijhbM

[@lucymonks4888]

And Gordon Ramsay did Cooking In Prison.

[@nightwinghunter]

Total legend. I met him one night. It was my Birthday and we were hitting the clubs in Brighton where I then lived. We had a shot and chatted. He was super lovely. Sometimes you can meet your heroes and they don't disappoint.

[@fuckamericanidiot]

You were shotchatting!

[@mrkeogh]

He should have bought a round of Ladyboys.

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

I heard he had a habit of ending the night in a golden shower

[@twincammikev]

@@mrkeogh 😁😁😁

[@highnoon7097]

I don't think anecdotes are your forte

[@ebneigh5191]

That scene in Philomena, her grappling for oceans of meaning in the small drops of Martin’s meeting with her son, is achingly heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time. True genius writing and performance.,

[@senor250]

Completely agree with the local radio comment . BBC radio Leicester had a “ should hot cross buns be hot , or can you eat them cold “? “ call in if you eat them cold “ the call in lasted over a week lol

[@gordonferrar7782]

Radio 2 factoids with Steve Wright is a bit like that. Still love it though.

[@mikebailey783]

The great thing is, that could easily have been a 'phone-in subject on Norfolk Nights!

[@andyramone]

A legit call in on a local Norfolk radio show a few years ago was 'Are you having a wibbly day or a wobbly day?'

[@brownayy]

I originally thought Mid Morning Matters was a straight parody of Radio Leicester, it's completely inane

[@Nickdacooldude]

I just pht bbc radio Leicester on to annoy passengers lol

[@GrumpyStoic]

I know this has been said countless times, but I just love that Steve himself still laughs at his work.

[@Thrashman138]

One of the funniest men alive.

[@monstermunch4956]

He’s textbook

[@deformednutsack9886]

As said by shaken stevens 👍

[@BettySwollocks13]

Back of the net

[@laflame7338]

Kiss my face

[@jamesr6562]

24 hour party people.

[@drewarmstrong7863]

Awesome film. Nothing like Tony Wilson in real life though. RIP.

[@kevinkibble8342]

As an actor (rather than a comedian) his performance in it was brilliant.

[@manchegocheese8529]

The wry smiles as he re-lived some old gold was really heartwarming.

[@futurez12]

That "and another" line was one of the greatest lines ever uttered on TV.

[@chuzzwozzer]

Coogan is an institution of British comedy. He created the funniest and most enduring comedy character of all time in Alan, and the way he's developed him particularly in the last 10 years with I, Partridge, Nomad and The Oasthouse has just added such depth to the character as well as making him more hilarious. What other comedy character is there that you know pretty much his entire life story chronicled through books , tv programs and podcasts?

[@chescarino]

i still prefer duncan thickett.. also; occasionally when i go in starbucks, i say my name is dan when they take my order, then wait a few shouts when my coffee is ready, just to amuse myself..

[@mhoppy6639]

chescarino brilliant. Gonna rip that one off. I thought I was the only one to make up increasingly implausible names for the servers to shout.

[@patkawasaki]

That's saaaaad! (I would do that. I will do it.)

[@jungfraujoch11333]

chescarino Duncan “ ‘Ave yer ever nooticed.....” Priceless

[@jonnybgood9162]

Brilliant hahaha

[@garryharriman7349]

👍😂😂