Young people find Alan Partridge funny, but over 40s do not - and compared to other post-2000 British comedies, I'm Alan Partridge does not make the top ten
Tomorrow marks the release of Alpha Papa, the Alan Partridge film.
More than ten years after Alan Partridge begun quizzing the public (of Norwich) on such pressing issues as ‘how often should you wash your towels?’ and ‘what car would Oliver Cromwell drive if he were alive today?’, YouGov asks the British public an equally pressing question: is Alan Partridge funny?
I’m Alan Partridge, the sit-com which made Steve Coogan's comedy creation famous, aired from 1997-2002. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, the poll shows that those who find him funny tend to be younger. Excluding those who ‘don’t know’ or ‘haven’t watched’, around 58% of 18-39 year olds find the Partridge funny, while 68% of over 60s do not. Overall however, 40% of British adults do not find Mr Partridge funny, compared to a third (34%) who do. 27% ‘don’t know or haven’t watched it’.
YouGov also tested where the public rank I’m Alan Partridge in relation to other top British TV comedies with episodes released in or after 2000.
Each respondent picked up to three programmes out of 28. The Vicar of Dibley and Mrs Browns Boys have first and second place, with 27% and 25% of the vote, respectively. In third place is The Inbetweeners, which has recently had a second film confirmed.
The Office, shown in 88 countries and remade by eight different nations, ranks 11th. The Thick of it, whose lead actor Peter Capaldi has just been made the next Doctor in Doctor Who, ranks 12th. And I’m Alan Partridge ranks as 13th best British comedy.
To celebrate the release of Alpha Papa, Norwich City Council have launched a tour of Mr Partridge’s hometown. Participants walk through the first pedestrianised street in Britain, and Norwich Station, whose train to London, Alan warned, calls at "Rejection, Disappointment, Backstabbing Central and Shattered Dreams Parkway."
Image courtesy of Getty.
