I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge

The first thing you need to know about this book is that you are pretty much ambivalent about Alan Partridge and someone bought it for you, you are probably not going to enjoy it.  This really is a book for the dedicated fans of Mr Alan Partridge Esq.,

This is a no holds barred, in depth autobiography of perhaps the greatest radio presenter, sports commentator, interviewer, petrolhead and music system aficionado that has ever graced Norfolk.  It details his harrowing childhood with a distant mother and uncaring father.  It covers the unremitting bullying he suffered at the juvenile hands of his fellow Norfolkian pupils (Alan "Fartridge").  All of which helped develop him into the broadcasting megastar he surely is.

Most importantly this covers his BBC years.  The ill-fated "Knowing Me Knowing You" chat show that was never recommissioned despite being the saviour of BBC Two at the time.  Most importantly we get to see the truth behind the infamous "Smell The Cheese" incident with commissioning editor, the late, Tony Hayers that was so heinously misrepresented in the Reality TV Show.  We also get to witness, first hand, the break up of Alan's marriage to Carol and his estrangement from his children.  Mr Partridge does not shy away form his demons and really does tell all about his Toblerone addiction in harrowing detail.  You do wonder how he managed to survive all this and still Bounce Back, whilst having, needless to say, the last laugh.  However, Bounce Back the estimable Mr Partridge did and he now commands the Mid-Morning Matters show Monday to Friday on North Norfolk Digital.  A true National Treasure who has overcome his inauspicious upbringing to immerse himself in bringing joy to the listening public.  Mr Alan Gordon Partridge is a true raconteur.

That is how the review would read if Alan Partridge was a real person.  Fortunately, this particular blight on humanity is fictional.  Although I am a self-confessed fan of the character I was a little trepidacious beginning this book but I was relieved to find that the tone of the book matches that of the multiple TV Series dedicated to this loon.  Much sniggering was done on the couch whilst reading, for much the same reason I laugh at the TV Shows.  We all know an Alan - if you don't then YOU are the Alan.

The formatting of the book with multiple footnotes worked well on my e-reader and even the photo section showed up well (this is a particular pet hate of mine).  In fact, some of those footnotes contain the funniest sections.