Alan Partridge to make a chat show comeback online for big payday
His last attempt at reviving Alan Partridge ended in disaster.
But Steve Coogan has been handed another chance to bring back his most famous comic creation, after being handed a lucrative contract with Australian beer company Fosters.
The comedian will now star as the socially inept DJ in a series of ten, 12-minute episodes, which are to be screened across the internet as part of Fosters' new promotional campaign.
They will be produced by the 44-year-old's TV company Baby Cow, who have made hit shows including Gavin and Stacey and The Mighty Boosh and are to be released in the Autumn.
The original television series, I'm Alan Partridge, told the story of a failed television presenter turned local DJ who was living at the fictional Linton Travel Tavern near Norwich.
The BBC series, which regularly attracted up to six million veiwers, ran between 1997 and 2002.
Coogan and co-creator Armando Iannucci, 46, have both regularly hinted at trying to bring the character to the big screen.
Since it ended, Coogan has gone on to have major movie success, starring in Around The World In 80 Days and Night At The Museum, alongside Hollywood star Ben Stiller.
Coogan last revived the character for a live tour in October 2008 called, 'Steve Coogan is Alan Partridge and other less successful characters Live'.
However, he was booed and heckled by furious fans at the Liverpool Echo Arena, many of whom walked out disgusted at the quality of two shows in the 10,000 seat arena.
It is understood that Coogan was offered a huge cash offer to revive his character this time around, with a source adding: 'Steve has agreed to get Alan out of semi-retirement for a lot of cash.
'It's all part of Fosters moving into comedy. One of their initiatives is to persuade writers and comedians to revive classic British comedies on the internet.'
Coogan, who split from wife Caroline Hickman in 2005, is dating China Chow, 36, daughter of Mr Chow restaurateur Michael, 70.
His most recent television work has seen him film six-part series The Trip with comedy pal Rob Brydon, which sees them dine at six restaurants in the north of England.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ig-payday.html
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