Every Alan Partridge Project Ranked From Worst To Best

The Alan Partridge series has always taken pops at the familiar faces of British light entertainment, and This Time might be its most direct hit yet. A spoof of frothy early evening magazine programme The One Show, the waffle-heavy format fits Partridge perfectly as a man for whom no talk is ever too small.

Alan is joined by familiar faces Sidekick Simon and Lynn, as well as his co-host Jennie, an amalgamation of every young woman forced to work with a middle aged dinosaur, played with just the right amount of malice by Susannah Fielding.

The arc of the series is masterful - Partridge goes from temporary anchor to taking over entirely, and the more creative control he exerts, the wilder things get. The highlight is his recreation of 1970s educational corporal punishment, with some eye wateringly funny CGI turning Alan back into a boy.

At present it seems this will be a one and done concept, but it’s remarkable how relevant Partridge remains as a satire of the British media.