Every Alan Partridge Project Ranked From Worst To Best
6. Welcome To The Places Of My Life
Partridge’s 2012 documentary is a love letter to his home county of Norfolk. Location has always been a huge part of Alan’s story, and in this spoof of tedious celeb-driven travelogues, he takes us on a zippy one-off guide to the region that made him.
In-story this is a self produced project, and so Alan has free reign to focus on the aspects that matter most to him, regardless of how a prospective viewer may feel. That means a West Wing-style walk and talk around a town hall delivering a diatribe on parking regulations, and no fewer than three test drives in a land rover (he assures us he is not trying to obtain a freebie).
In one of the finest scenes, Alan takes us around Norwich market, doling out tips on nabbing a three course meal for free by holding your nerve with the samples, and taking on “menial work” as a trader. He is affronted by his new colleagues, but needless to say, he has the last laugh.
The special features some classic Partridge surrealism as he allows his mind to wander at the prospect of Hitler taking over Norwich, and delves into the darkness of the character as it goes on. A bit of everything here.