"The names' Alan, Alan Partridge. They say the art of conversation is dead but I've rescued the drowning chat. Years ago I asked the BBC if I could host my own show and they said 'Alan you can't. It won't work.' I said 'I can and it will.' I have. It does (work that is.) This is it. Listen. Learn and Listen some more. Ah-haah!"

Steve Coogan is Alan Partridge, "the chat show host from hell", in two programmes from the cult radio comedy of the 90s which gave rise to the BBC television series of the same name.