Alan Partridge is a very special creation, growing out of so little to quickly become a terribly insecure monster, he is as funny as he is tragic. That journey and the creative forces behind it is well captured here as it follows from the first appearance on radio, through to television, through to having his own show and being a character in his own right.
This hour long documentary is linked to the new BBC show coming out at some point in 2018, so I did have a worry that it would be just promotional for that, but it wasn't. Of course it helps to be able to use it as a sort of clipshow to remind the viewer of the funny moments, but it is more than that thanks to how many people are involved as contributors. All the right people are there, and the key ones get the most amount of time, which is important. The show blends the material well, and has a nice through-line as a documentary. Since Alan is an interesting creation, it does mean that the process of his creation is also interesting, and this documentary will more that whet the appetite for his return, while still serving as an engaging look back.
