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Alan Partridge finds himself in a predicament! Yet, who isn’t struggling nowadays? When we last saw him on screen, Alan was melting down live on air while hosting the light magazine show This Time, wrapping up with him excluded of the BBC. As his latest self-made endeavor begins, the light documentary How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), Alan discloses he’s experienced another setback by fainting into the lap of a female interviewee at a corporate event for Norfolk agribusiness stalwarts. Tough times, but personalities of Partridge’s calibre know how to bounce back: link personal issues to broader trends and attempt to turn it into a show.

Exploring the Epidemic of Anxiety

How Are You? features Coogan’s timeless character in roving factual mode, examining a wave of mental health issues that he believes is intensifying: “In old-fashioned language, it’s gone crazy!” The journey will see him experiment with religion, reconnect with friends from school, and enjoy therapeutic hikes, as well as confronting his recent past. Initial episodes culminate in a fraught but healing gathering with “Sidekick” Simon Denton (Tim Key), his old partner from past shows, and as the episodes progress, we’re shown unseen clips from Alan’s stints.

Alongside his co-writers and directors, How Are You? is a sideways move. While the previous show explored new ground, How Are You? sometimes rehashes past ideas: as well as directly reviving old formats, the whole piece resembles the mockumentaries from the 2010s. As his life intertwines with the subject matter, viewers will think of his podcast work.

Contrasting Alans

That presents a small problem. The character has two facets: Winning Alan (currently has a big paid presenting gig) 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 more wistful Wilderness Alan has recently taken flight in books and audio projects. How Are You? places us inside the oasthouse and includes Kelly in the role of Katrina, his highly inappropriate love interest from the podcast. Yet this heartbreaking narrative – Alan is in denial about Katrina cheating on him with his friend and local tanning-centre mogul – seems better suited to podcast pacing, where the listener’s imagination can co-write the comedy. When we can’t see him, Wilderness Alan has room to breathe: television nowadays feels more suited to putting Winning Alan under pressure and seeing his downfall, as in past series.

The Genius of Sloppy Errors

These, however, are quibbles in the face of one large, undeniable fact: in any format, he is the top humorous character in Britain, and brief appearances yield constant humor than competing shows. How Are You? has Alan in multiple creative roles, which opens up his genius for sloppy errors and poor editorial decisions. If explosive fruit edits symbolize struggles, it will be included, and he remains unchecked on misspeaking or similar gaffes in narration. The brief pained expression he makes exiting aware that the segment was a failure consistently amuses, and likewise for his interlude creations, topped by his earnest, flawed grins while simultaneously swallowing a mouthful of humble British tea.

Memorable Scenes and Sentiments

Is there anything more joyous than Alan grunting as he squats down next to a skip? Absolutely not. Visually he’s a feast too, with his new dye job several shades too light to be plausible, and his clothing showcasing loud pants, contrasting shoes, an arsenal of body warmers and over-the-top joy about style revivals.

Plus, the subject matter here allows for the glimpses into Alan’s soul that emerged with the current writers. Several times, it delivers poignant moments, where his ignorance uncovers sorrow that nearly brings viewers to tears, then the comedy returns and laughter resumes. That can happen because we’ve loved him for so long: any version of Alan Partridge is always welcome back.