By Daniel Smith

Copyright walesonline

On a crisp October afternoon, somewhere on a B-road near Ryton-on-Dunsmore, a broadcasting legend is likely enjoying a perfectly executed three-point turn in a Lexus. Alan Partridge, a man whose career has been a journey in every sense of the word, remains a titan of the regional airwaves. From the heady heights of his BBC chat show to the dark, Toblerone-fuelled days at the Linton Travel Tavern, and his glorious resurrection at North Norfolk Digital, his story is the nation’s story. In a word: compelling. Now, it is time to test your knowledge of this colossus of content. This is no mere online bagatelle; it’s a deep dive into a uniquely British psyche, an examination of the man behind the microphone, the face behind the ‘Siege Face’. Do you know your Jed Maxwells from your Michael Jordans (the Geordie, not the sportsman)? Twelve questions now stand between you and a metaphorical pint of Director’s Bitter at the bar of broadcasting excellence. Settle in and prepare yourself for some truly lovely stuff… If you cannot see the quiz above, click here. It’s been 34 years since Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci first created Partridge, a parody of British television personalities. Since his debut in 1991 on the Radio 4 series On the Hour, Partridge has appeared in television series, books, podcasts, and film. After a four-year hiatus, Coogan and his co-writers Neil and Rob Gibbons have brought the veteran presenter back in a new series, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge). The BBC series follows Partridge returning to the UK after doing promotional work in Saudi Arabia, as he attempts to rebuild his career through a documentary about mental health. Coogan, 59, says he enjoys reinventing and playing the character, as it offers a way to explore taboo topics. “I like doing it,” explains the Lancashire-born actor and comedian. “It’s quite a good conduit to talk about popular culture and things that are difficult, or to say things that are perhaps taboo or would be difficult to talk about as a private person. “Through the character, you can say things or explore issues that might otherwise be problematic. There was an appetite for that, and we felt like doing it. “We tend to return to it when we want to, really. Obviously, we’re happy if the BBC or anyone else wants it, but generally, it’s on our terms. And this time, we just felt like being funny with Alan again.”