Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)
Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (also known as Knowing Me, Knowing You) is a BBC Television comedy series of six episodes (beginning 16 September 1994), and a Christmas special Knowing Me, Knowing Yule on 29 December 1995. It is named after the song "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA (the main character's favourite band), a rendition of which was used as the show's title music. Steve Coogan plays the incompetent but self-satisfied Norwich-based talk show host Alan Partridge, who often insults his guests and humiliates himself in the process. Alan was a spin-off character from the spoof radio show On the Hour (which later transferred to TV as The Day Today). Knowing Me, Knowing You was written by Coogan, Armando Iannucci (who produced the radio version) and Patrick Marber (who also starred), with contributions from the regular supporting cast of Doon Mackichan, Rebecca Front and David Schneider, who played Alan's weekly guests. Steve Brown provided the show's music and arrangements, and also appeared as Glenn Ponder, the man in charge of the house band (the name of which changed, without explanation, every episode).
| Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge | |
|---|---|
 Knowing Me, Knowing You titlescreen | |
| Genre | Comedy (spoof chat show) |
| Created by | Steve Coogan Armando Iannucci Patrick Marber |
| Directed by | Dominic Brigstocke |
| Starring | Steve Coogan Steve Brown Rebecca Front Patrick Marber David Schneider Doon Mackichan |
| Theme music composer | ABBA |
| Opening theme | "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by the Steve Brown Band |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 7 including one Christmas special (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Peter Fincham |
| Producer | Armando Iannucci |
| Running time | 28–32 min 46 min (Christmas Special) |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC2 |
| Picture format | PAL (576i) 4:3 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 16 September – 21 October 1994 (Christmas Special shown on 29 December 1995) |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (Radio series) |
| Followed by | I'm Alan Partridge |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Alan went on to appear in two series of the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge, following his life after both his marriage and TV career come to an end, though the latter was subsequently revived. It was generally well received by fans and critics, and was nominated for a BAFTA and a British Comedy Award.
Format
Knowing Me, Knowing You is a parody of a chat show. It featured a live audience whose laughter meant viewers were unlikely to mistake the show for a real chat show. Some of the guests parodied real-life appearances on chat shows. For example, the medical fashion parade by Yvonne Boyd is a reference to Vivienne Westwood's appearance on Wogan.
Script and broadcast versions
In total there have been three 'official' versions of the television series prepared by producer Armando Iannucci – the originally transmitted half-hour version (also used in most repeats and abroad), a version extended by roughly five minutes per episode for the VHS and subsequent DVD release, and a version prepared for BBC Two's 2002 Partridge repeat season, again in a thirty-minute slot but now featuring reinstated material from the video version (such as Partridge's promotion of the Sprünt drink brand) and a generally tighter edit to compensate for the running time, in addition to the Partridge web address being added to the end credits. In 2013, the latter version was made available for streaming on Netflix. In the original transmission of episode 2, the dialogue in which the character Gary Barker referred to 'punching Jessica Tandy' had to be dubbed over with a reference to Angela Lansbury instead, due to the very recent death of the former.
Reception
The Austin Chronicle called it "one of the most hilarious satirical comedies in recent memory".[1]
Episodes
| Transmission date | House band | Rebecca Front | Patrick Marber | David Schneider | Doon Mackichan | Other guests | Another Alan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 September 1994 | Glenn Ponder and Chalet | Sue Lewis, a quiet showjumper | Keith Hunt, new host of This Is Your Life | Big Red Book on This Is Your Life (untransmitted sequence) | Shona McGough, an abrasive punk singer | Keith's son, Shona's band and Roger Moore (voice; performed by Steve Coogan) | - |
| 2 | 23 September 1994 | Glenn Ponder and Debonair | Tania Beaumont, actress | Gary Barker, washed-up actor and Tania's husband | Tony LeMesmer, magician | - | Daniella Forrest, transgender Playboy columnist (Minnie Driver) | A sailor with a facial tic (John Thomson) |
| 3 | 30 September 1994 | Glenn Ponder and Ferrari | Gina Langland, singer | Lawrence Knowles, a sleazy promoter | Clive Sealy, Lawrence's dermatologist | - | The Olympic Golden Girls of 1936; Hot Pants, an all-male strip troupe | - |
| 4 | 7 October 1994 | Glenn Ponder and Savoir Faire | Yvonne Boyd, a fashion designer with odd ideas | Philippe Lambert, famous but arrogant French chef | Head of Cirque des Clowns, a very risqué mime act | - | Nina Vanier, Alan's French co-host (Melanie Hudson) | Alain Perdrix, who couldn't speak English |
| 5 | 14 October 1994 | Glenn Ponder and Lazarus | Charlotte Fraser (Lab) | Martin Dwyer, alias Lt. Col. Kojak Slaphead III (Bald Brummies Against The Big-Footed Conspiracy Party) | Adrian Finch (Con) | - | Terry Norton, dodgy boxing promoter (Alan Ford); Five Miss Norwich contestants (Barbara Durkin, plus four uncredited); Ronald Biggs (Lib Dem) (Felix Dexter) | Dead, but appeared in a coffin with his family |
| 6 | 21 October 1994 | Glenn Ponder and Bangkok | Bridie McMahon, lesbian host of the show to take Alan's place | Forbes McAllister, cynical restaurant critic for The Spectator | Unnamed Police Sergeant | Wanda Harvey, Bridie's lesbian co-host | The Alan Partridge Playmates; the Maclean brothers, irritating child film-makers; Joe Beazley and Cheeky Monkey, awful ventriloquist act (John Thomson) | - |
| 7 | 29 December 1995 | Glenn Ponder and his "friend" Andy | Mary, a bellringer and devout Christian | Gordon Heron, a paralysed former golfer | Tony Hayers, Chief Commissioning Editor of BBC Television | Liz Heron, Gordon's wife and also a golfer | Fanny Thomas, innuendo-using transvestite (Kevin Eldon), Mick Hucknall | - |
References
- Sauer, Jess (2 December 2005). "Review: Knowing Me, Knowing You – Screens – The Austin Chronicle". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
