Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)

Last updated

Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge
Knowing Me Knowing You titlescreen.jpg
Titlescreen
Genre Comedy
(spoof chat show)
Created by Steve Coogan
Armando Iannucci
Patrick Marber
Directed byDominic Brigstocke
StarringSteve Coogan
Steve Brown
Rebecca Front
Patrick Marber
David Schneider
Doon Mackichan
Theme music composer ABBA
Opening theme"Knowing Me, Knowing You" by the Steve Brown Band
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes7 (inc. Christmas special)(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer Peter Fincham
ProducerArmando Iannucci
Running time28–32 min
46 min (Christmas Special)
Production company Talkback Productions
Original release
Network BBC2
Release16 September 1994 (1994-09-16) 
29 December 1995 (1995-12-29)
Related
Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (Radio series)
I'm Alan Partridge

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (also known as Knowing Me, Knowing You) is a BBC Television comedy series of six episodes (beginning 16 September 1994), and a Christmas special Knowing Me, Knowing Yule on 29 December 1995. It is named after the song "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA (the main character's favourite band), a rendition of which was used as the show's title music. Steve Coogan plays the incompetent but self-satisfied Norwich-based talk show host Alan Partridge, who often insults his guests and humiliates himself in the process. Alan was a spin-off character from the spoof radio show On the Hour (which later transferred to TV as The Day Today ). Knowing Me, Knowing You was written by Coogan, Armando Iannucci (who produced the radio version) and Patrick Marber (who also starred), with contributions from the regular supporting cast of Doon Mackichan, Rebecca Front and David Schneider, who played Alan's weekly guests. Steve Brown provided the show's music and arrangements, and also appeared as Glenn Ponder, the man in charge of the house band (the name of which changed, without explanation, every episode).

Contents

Alan went on to appear in two series of the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge , following his life after both his marriage and TV career come to an end, though the latter was subsequently revived. It was generally well received by fans and critics, and was nominated for a BAFTA and a British Comedy Award.

Format

Knowing Me, Knowing You is a parody of the 1980s and 1990s UK chat show, such as Wogan and Des O'Connor Tonight .

Reception

The Austin Chronicle called it "one of the most hilarious satirical comedies in recent memory". [1]

Episodes

Transmission dateHouse band Rebecca Front Patrick Marber David Schneider Doon Mackichan Other guestsAnother Alan
116 September 1994Glenn Ponder and ChaletSue Lewis, a quiet showjumperKeith Hunt, new host of This Is Your Life Big Red Book on This Is Your Life (untransmitted sequence)Shona McGough, an abrasive punk singerKeith's son, Shona's band and Roger Moore (voice; performed by Steve Coogan)-
223 September 1994Glenn Ponder and DebonairTania Beaumont, actressGary Barker, washed-up actor and Tania's husbandTony Le Mesmer, magician and hypnotist-Daniella Forrest, transgender Playboy columnist (Minnie Driver)A sailor with a facial tic (John Thomson)
330 September 1994Glenn Ponder and FerrariGina Langland, singerLawrence Knowles, a sleazy promoterClive Sealy, Lawrence's dermatologist-The Olympic Golden Girls of 1936; Hot Pants, an all-male strip troupe-
47 October 1994Glenn Ponder and Savoir FaireYvonne Boyd, a fashion designer with odd ideasPhilippe Lambert, famous but arrogant French chefHead of Cirque des Clowns, a very risqué mime act-Nina Vanier, Alan's French co-host (Melanie Hudson)Alain Perdrix, a lorry driver who couldn't speak English
514 October 1994Glenn Ponder and LazarusCharlotte Fraser (Lab)Martin Dwyer, alias Lt. Col. Kojak Slaphead III (Bald Brummies Against The Big-Footed Conspiracy Party)Adrian Finch (Con)-Terry Norton, dodgy boxing promoter (Alan Ford); Five Miss Norwich contestants (Barbara Durkin, plus four uncredited); Ronald Biggs (Lib Dem) (Felix Dexter)Dead, but appeared in a coffin with his family
621 October 1994Glenn Ponder and BangkokBridie McMahon, lesbian host of the show to take Alan's placeForbes McAllister, cynical restaurant critic for The Spectator Unnamed Police SergeantWanda Harvey, Bridie's lesbian co-hostThe Alan Partridge Playmates; the Maclean brothers, irritating child film-makers; Joe Beazley and Cheeky Monkey, awful ventriloquist act (John Thomson)-
729 December 1995Glenn Ponder and his "friend" AndyMary, a bellringer and devout ChristianGordon Heron, a paralysed former golferTony Hayers, Chief Commissioning Editor of BBC TelevisionLiz Heron, Gordon's wife and also a golferFanny Thomas, innuendo-using drag act (Kevin Eldon), Mick Hucknall -

Characters carried over into the TV series

Several characters from the radio series are similar to ones used in the TV series; several jokes are even reused. Doon MacKichan's character Kendall Ball did not make it into the eventual TV series but did appear in The Day Today, made between the two incarnations.

RadioTV
Tony HayersTony Hayers
Sally HoffTania Beaumont
Conrad KnightGary Barker
Lord Morgan of GlossopForbes McAllister
Yvonne BoydYvonne Boyd
Janey KatzTony LeMesmer
Michel LambertPhilippe Lambert

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Partridge</span> British comedy character

Alan Gordon Partridge is a comedy character portrayed by the English actor Steve Coogan. A parody of British television personalities, Partridge is a tactless and inept broadcaster with an inflated sense of celebrity. Since his debut in 1991, he has appeared in media including radio and television series, books, podcasts and film.

Steven James Brown was a British composer, lyricist, record producer, and arranger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Coogan</span> English actor and comedian (born 1965)

Stephen John Coogan is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for creating and portraying Alan Partridge, a socially inept and politically incorrect media personality, which he developed while working with Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris on On the Hour and The Day Today. Partridge has featured in several television series such as I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002) and the film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013). Coogan has earned accolades such as four BAFTA Awards and three British Comedy Awards, and nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armando Iannucci</span> Scottish comedian, film director and producer

Armando Giovanni Iannucci is a Scottish satirist, writer, director, producer, performer and panellist. Born in Glasgow to Italian parents, Iannucci studied at the University of Glasgow followed by the University of Oxford. Starting on BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4, his early work with Chris Morris on the radio series On the Hour transferred to television as The Day Today.

<i>The Day Today</i> 1994 British television comedy show

The Day Today is a British comedy television show that parodies television news and current affairs programmes, broadcast from 19 January to 23 February 1994 on BBC2. It was created by Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris and is an adaptation of the radio programme On the Hour, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 9 August 1991 and 28 May 1992 and was also written by Morris, Iannucci, Steven Wells, Andrew Glover, Stewart Lee, Richard Herring, David Quantick, and the cast. For The Day Today, Peter Baynham joined the writing team, and Lee and Herring were replaced by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews. The principal cast of On the Hour was retained for The Day Today.

<i>On the Hour</i> British current affairs radio parody

On the Hour was a British radio programme that parodied current affairs broadcasting, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 1991 and 1992. Written by Chris Morris, Armando Iannucci, Steven Wells, Andrew Glover, Stewart Lee, Richard Herring and David Quantick, On the Hour starred Morris as the overzealous and self-important principal anchor. He was accompanied by a regular cast assembled by Iannucci, comprising Steve Coogan, Rebecca Front, Doon Mackichan, Patrick Marber and David Schneider, who portrayed assorted news reporters, presenters and interviewees. On the Hour featured the first appearance of Coogan's character Alan Partridge as the "Sports Desk" reporter.

Rebecca Louise Front is an English actress, writer and comedian. She won the 2010 BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for The Thick of It (2009–2012). She is also known for her work in numerous other British comedies, including the radio show On The Hour (1992), The Day Today (1994), Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge (1994), Time Gentlemen Please (2000–2002), sketch show Big Train (2002), and Nighty Night (2004–2005).

<i>Im Alan Partridge</i> British sitcom (1997–2002)

I'm Alan Partridge is a British sitcom created by Steve Coogan, Peter Baynham and Armando Iannucci. Coogan stars as Alan Partridge, a tactless and inept broadcaster. The first series, broadcast in 1997, has Coogan living in a roadside hotel after having been left by his wife and dropped by the BBC. The second, broadcast in 2002, sees Partridge living in a static caravan after recovering from an mental breakdown. Iannucci said the writers used the sitcom as "a kind of social X-ray of male middle-aged Middle England".

Peter Baynham is a Welsh screenwriter and performer. He appeared in a series of comedic Pot Noodle television adverts in the 1990s. His writing work includes collaborations with comedy figures such as Armando Iannucci, Steve Coogan, Chris Morris, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Sarah Smith. Born in Cardiff, Baynham served in the Merchant Navy after leaving school and later pursued a career in comedy — first in stand-up, and then as a writer and performer for various news and sketch comedies in radio and television while enjoying personal fame starring in Pot Noodle adverts. He then became a writer in feature film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Thomson (comedian)</span> English comedian, narrator and actor

John Patrick Thomson is an English comedian, narrator and actor best known for his roles in The Fast Show, Men Behaving Badly, Cold Feet, 24 Hour Party People, The Brothers Grimsby and Coronation Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Eldon</span> British actor and comedian

Kevin Eldon is an English actor and comedian. He featured in British comedy television shows of the 1990s including Fist of Fun, This Morning with Richard Not Judy, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, Big Train, Brass Eye and Jam. In 2013, Eldon appeared in his own BBC sketch series It's Kevin. He has also appeared in minor speaking roles in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Baby Cow Productions Limited is a British comedy television production company based in London and Manchester, founded by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal. Since its establishment it has diversified into radio, animation and film. According to their website, Baby Cow "produces bold, high-quality scripted entertainment across all genres for television, film and radio." The company's name is a reference to Coogan's early characters Paul and Pauline Calf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doon Mackichan</span> British actress, comedian and writer (born 1962)

Sarah Doon Mackichan is a British actress, comedian and writer. She co-created, wrote and performed in the double-Emmy-award-winning Smack the Pony. She frequently collaborates with Armando Iannucci and Steve Coogan, having played multiple characters in The Day Today, Brass Eye and Alan Partridge, and has also appeared in Toast of London and Two Doors Down. Mackichan was nominated for Best Female Comedy Performance at the 2014 British Academy Television Awards for her performance in Plebs and won critical praise for her performance alongside John Malkovich in Bitter Wheat in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Key</span> English comedian and poet (born 1976)

Timothy Key is an English poet, comedian, actor and screenwriter. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, both as a solo act and as part of the comedy group Cowards, and plays Alan Partridge's sidekick Simon in film and television. In 2009, he won the Edinburgh Comedy Award and was nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.

<i>Saxondale</i> British comedy television series

Saxondale is a British sitcom television series, starring Steve Coogan and co-written by Coogan and Neil Maclennan. The series is directed by Matt Lipsey and produced by Ted Dowd. Coogan and Henry Normal served as executive producers. The show is set in Stevenage and depicts middle-class suburban life.

<i>Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge</i> (radio series) Radio show

Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge is a BBC Radio 4 series of six episodes. It is named after the song "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA, which was used as the show's title music.

Mid Morning Matters is a British digital radio show parody written by Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons and Armando Iannucci, produced by Baby Cow Productions and funded by the British arm of Australian lager company Foster's, starring Coogan as fictional radio DJ Alan Partridge. The first of twelve 15-minute episodes was uploaded to the Foster's Funny website on 5 November 2010, and then available on YouTube. Six 30-minute episodes titled Alan Partridge Mid Morning Matters: Special Edition, edited from the web series, began airing on Sky Atlantic in July 2012 as part of a deal between producers Baby Cow and BSkyB. A second series consisting of six episodes premiered in February 2016.

<i>Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa</i> 2013 British comedy film

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is a 2013 British comedy film starring Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, a fictional presenter he has played on various BBC radio and television shows since 1991. It was directed by Declan Lowney and written by Coogan, Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham and Neil and Rob Gibbons. Colm Meaney co-starred as Pat Farrell, a DJ who takes hostages after he is fired from Partridge's radio station; Partridge is enlisted as a negotiator.

<i>This Time with Alan Partridge</i> BBC comedy series

This Time with Alan Partridge is a British sitcom first broadcast in 2019 on BBC One. It stars Steve Coogan as the inept broadcaster Alan Partridge in a spoof of day-time magazine programmes such as The One Show and Good Morning Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Demetriou</span> English comedian and actor (born 1987)

Jamie Demetriou is an English comedian, actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Bus Rodent in Fleabag and for creating, co-writing, and starring in Stath Lets Flats. For the latter, he won Best Male Actor in a Comedy, Best Writer of a Comedy, and Best Scripted Comedy at the 2020 BAFTA Awards.

References

  1. Sauer, Jess (2 December 2005). "Review: Knowing Me, Knowing You – Screens – The Austin Chronicle". Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 15 May 2016.