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Alan Partridge is in crisis! But then, who isn’t these days? When we last saw him on screen, Alan had an on-air breakdown while fronting the entertainment series This Time, concluding the season by being shut out of the BBC. At the start of his new, self-produced project, the light documentary How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), Alan discloses he’s since hit another low by collapsing onto a woman during an interview at a corporate event for Norfolk agribusiness stalwarts. Hard moments, but such characters rebound: link personal issues to broader trends and attempt to turn it into a show.

Investigating Mental Health Trends

How Are You? features Coogan’s timeless character in investigative guise, looking into an epidemic of anxiety, stress and loneliness that he feels is worsening: “If I can use an outdated term, it’s just got mental!” The journey will see him experiment with religion, reconnect with friends from school, and embark on calming rural strolls, alongside facing his history. Episode one builds towards a hostile but cathartic reunion with “Sidekick” Simon Denton (Tim Key), his old partner from past shows, and as this new series goes on, we’re shown unseen clips from Alan’s stints.

For Coogan and his long-term writing/directing collaborators, How Are You? marks a change of pace. In contrast to earlier innovations, How Are You? frequently revisits old themes: along with bringing back former styles, it mirrors earlier faux-documentaries from the 2010s. With his personal issues seeping into the content, we’re most strongly reminded of the podcast series.

The Two Sides of Alan Partridge

That presents a small problem. We see two versions of Alan: Successful Alan (with high-profile jobs) and Struggling Alan (without work), and although Wilderness Alan was the star of the faultless TV sitcom I’m Alan Partridge back in 1997, a nostalgic take has developed in books and audio projects. How Are You? places us inside the oasthouse and features Kelly as Katrina, his highly inappropriate love interest from the podcast. Yet this heartbreaking narrative – he ignores her infidelity with an acquaintance and entrepreneur – seems better suited to podcast pacing, where the listener’s imagination can co-write the comedy. Without visuals, he seems more free: current formats thrive on challenging the triumphant version and seeing his downfall, as in past series.

The Genius of Sloppy Errors

Still, these are minor points compared to a major truth: in any format, he is the top humorous character in Britain, and temporary versions still offer huge comedy than anything else on telly. How Are You? has Alan in multiple creative roles, which showcases his knack for blunders and misjudgments. If he thinks Britain’s mental health problems are best illustrated by an aggressively edited montage of exploding fruit, that’s what we’re getting, and there’s nobody to tell him that he’s accidentally used the word “tastistics” or the phrase “mental bealth henefits” in his voiceover. The subtle wince he shows off-camera knowing on some level that that piece to camera was another balls-up consistently amuses, and likewise for his interlude creations, the best of which sees him attempt to fix us with a sympathetic smile while drinking tea clumsily.

Visual and Emotional Highlights

Is there anything more joyous than Alan grunting as he squats down next to a skip? Surely not. His appearance is equally entertaining, with his new dye job several shades too light to be plausible, and his clothing showcasing loud pants, statement footwear, multiple gilets and excited response to fashion trends.

Moreover, the content reveals his deeper side that appeared under new creative guidance. Repeatedly, the show achieves emotional depth, where his ignorance uncovers sorrow that almost has us crying tears of emotion, before the persona snaps back in and we’re crying from laughter again instead. It succeeds because of enduring fandom: every appearance is appreciated.