From the Guardian web site....

And on that bombshell ... Alan Partridge, the movie?

Owen Gibson, media correspondent
Tuesday April 19, 2005
The Guardian

A-ha! Alan Partridge, the tragicomic local radio DJ who harbours delusions of the big time, could make it in Hollywood after all. After a brief appearance in this year's Comic Relief, Steve Coogan wants to put his radio and TV persona on the silver screen.

Coogan, who has forged a film career with 24 Hour Party People, The Parole Officer and Around the World in 80 Days, has said he will only play Partridge in one-offs and specials.

Plans for the film are in their "early stages" but "the will is there" to make a film based on the hapless Partridge, according to a spokeswoman for Coogan's Baby Cow production company. "It's in the pipeline but we don't have any definite date."

Coogan's co-writer Armando Iannucci, who directed the TV series, said he was not involved with plans for a film.

"My personal view is that I've taken him as far as he can go and I'd rather leave him where he is - having a nervous breakdown in a bath in Dundee. But it's up to Steve what he wants to do with it and I wish him well," Iannucci said yesterday.

The character has appeared in various guises since his debut as a sports reporter with a patchy knowledge of his subject matter in Radio 4's On the Hour in 1991. From the success of the spoof radio chatshow Knowing Me, Knowing You, Partridge progressed to the small screen. He brought his inimitable broadcasting style to Chris Morris's news satire, The Day Today, before going on to host a televised version of his chatshow.

In the fictional world of Partridge, the show was cancelled after one series when he shot dead a guest in the final show. He next turned up in two series of I'm Alan Partridge, a mockumentary that followed his humiliating return to East Anglia, where he lived first in a Travelodge and then a caravan as he tried to rebuild his career.

Apart from his toe-curling graveyard slot on Radio Norwich he failed to get back on the BBC. During the two-year gap between series, Partridge became "clinically fed up", culminating in a breakdown when he drove to Dundee in his bare feet and gorged on chocolate.

An Alan Partridge movie could be brilliant, but if Iannucci isn't involved then it may be that the quality of writing suffers.

i thought the second series of i'm alan partridge was a bit weak so i'm not too sure about a movie. i don't think the character will translate to the big screen too well either.

it needs coogan, iannuci, marber and baynham to do it justice really - i would rather see development with his character on the small screen than a movie that could kill him off for good.

I agree, it does need everybody on board to make it right but should ultimately just be left alone anyway.

Oh, thank God! At first I thought you were talking about that other programme with Partridge in the title...

Wasn't the last series enough to convince everyone that AP has had his day?

Not really, Partridge died for me a while back after this absolute expletive I know ran off "AHA!" for the 1,000,000 time. Not even a reappearance with Pegg on Comic Relief could do it justice in my mind. Only time will tell.

No I don't like this idea, It'll suck without Iannucci. and for me evidence just keeps coming that Coogan is a cunt.

I'll always remember Simon Peggs interview in FHM:

"I used to really admire Steve Coogan, but now I screen his calls."

I tend to trust Armando's opinion on this one - then again, it's a bit unfair for us to pan it on so little information.

And if there was a film theyd probably do some pish-dramatic Holywood plot, like Alan having to save the world from aliens or accidentally being elected PM.

I agree with it needing the whole ensemble in order to reach the same quality as it did at its peak. The last series did lack a certain something, but think that it could maybe work on the big screen ... would be interesting to find out more details though.

Also just checked the baby cow website, and there's nothing there indicating that this is happening ... so who is this spokeswoman then???

I don't think it will happen, TBH, but I would love to see Partridge return somehow. Not a new series, not even a film maybe, but a special. A one-off special would be cool.

HOWEVER I don't think Coogan should risk spoiling everything he's worked towards over the last decade or so with this character. From The Day Today to I'm Alan Partridge he remained a hilarious character, especially as much of I'm Alan Partridge was actually improvised, so why rick soiling it's legacy?

Generous.

Aren't those both plots that are being considered for Johnny English 2?

Was that serious or funny? Are they making a Johnny English Two?

Yes.

We're all going to die.

to ensure total annihilation they are also making bean 2.

And my reply was going to be a joke that they were making Bean 2 as well . . .