‘It was a good and predictable end for Alan’
I’ve been a Partridge fan from the start and Knowing Me Knowing You was always a favourite of mine, so to see him back on the Beeb in a chatshow format was great. There were some ups and downs, but this episode was a good and predictable end for Alan. We all knew it wouldn’t go to plan. I expect Alan to return to our screens, but not in a second series of This Time. Whatever that is, I cannot wait to see. Also, all these Partridge fans saying they don’t like the show, you are not real fans I’m afraid. Jay Whymark, 34, Portsmouth
‘I hope someone draws chalk penises on all their backs’
Just sack Alan. No dam of sausage would have held back the flood of beans of this disaster. The episode aped Knowing Me Knowing You too closely. The fashion show even happened with similar blocking. The autocue never called for the digiwall, so why was Simon even there? Plus Lucy (as a BBC professional) would have been getting Simon training to make him better. The opportunity was set for Alan’s padawan Anakin to defeat his Obi-Wan (even if he does hate Star Wars.) The last episode was woeful. I hope someone draws chalk penises on all their backs. One out of 10. Stu Walker, 43, Oxfordshire
‘A humorous jaw-grinding, sofa-dwelling experience’
I don’t think I’ve ever watched anything that is so close to how I feel about how I might coming across in my professional capacity (public speaking – ugh). It’s like all the workings of my inner conflicting thoughts manifested into a TV production. This Time manages to create something genuinely unique, not always likable, but nevertheless a humorous, jaw-grinding, sofa-dwelling experience. Laura, 40 plus, Devon
‘Give him the One Show slot’
Alan just goes from strength to strength. For me, the BBC needs to now consider giving him the One Show slot. Look at the evidence: brilliant investigative journalism with the expose of his unlawful arrest; an improvised but very succesful slot on lady’s fashion, thinking he had eyed a bargain at £65, and a fascinating report into sleep (where his frantic arse-scratching revealed a human, vulnerable Alan). The three writers have created an everyman for our times and beyond the One Show, I would love to see him do a double shift and take the helm at Question Time. His wisdom would serve as a soothing balm in our troubled times, would it not? Eddie, 52, Airdrie
‘A huge letdown’
It was a huge letdown that showed a total lack of understanding of what makes Partridge such a funny character. Even when part of an overtly surreal show like The Day Today, Partridge always had one foot in reality, feeling like someone you could just about imagine being out there somewhere – and of course always brilliantly written. This version of Partridge was an outright cartoon. It was more like the character was an alien trying to blend in with humanity. Yes, with Partridge we always know the inevitable meltdown or vile comment is coming, but it’s always after a meticulously crafted buildup, usually taking several episodes.
Here he was leaping straight into massively exaggerated creepiness and stupidity from the opening seconds of each episode. Tellingly, the best moments usually came from his interactions with the supporting cast. There were moments with Susannah Fielding in particular that harked back to classic Partridge, because she played it straight and believably portrayed how a normal person would try to act around him. Stephen, 34, Nottinghamshire
‘A series so funny it makes other comedy shows look like they’re not trying’
An astonishing series from a writing team with a masterful command of comedy – relentlessly inventive. Episode six’s clever placing of a bombshell at the start rather than the end was nicely oblique. What petty slight had caused Alan to take against Jennie and be so stroppy? Leaving that unanswered was cute. I’ve seen those criticising it for parodying a format already behind parody, or lacking verisimilitude as a take on magazine TV. The easiest thing to have done would have been a retread of our favourite tropes, a greatest hits medley for the gallery, but they insist on moving Alan on and reinventing him. It means it takes time for us to orientate ourselves, but it opens up fresh avenues for Alan’s awfulness to shine. A series so funny it makes other comedy shows look like they’re not trying. Dean Hatton, 31, Manchester
‘A treasure to behold’
This was a bravura performance. Classic performance from Steve Coogan. I was worried at the start of the series that it wouldn’t match up to my expectations – revisiting your comedy heroes is always a risky business. I shouldn’t have been worried. With the writing this good and Coogan clearly enjoying himself, this series was overall a treasure to behold. Let’s not wait as long for the next reprisal please. Paul Jonson, 49, Saddleworth
‘A sad series of Partridge impersonations and indulgences’
Finally disappeared up the maker’s behinds. The Partridge of the last episode existed out of the world of the previous Partridge series and seemed to be simply indulging Coogan and (less so) the Gibbons brothers, pratting around like some Widow Twankey where the other characters aren’t allowed any oxygen. And moving Susannah Fielding out of the last episode entirely is an excruciatingly blinkered piece of indulgence – unforgivable. A sad series of Partridge impersonations and indulgences that started with a bit of room to go on from and ended up like one of those 1980s series where when the writers had a dry week, they’d simply have one character shot so the episode could simply be a rehash of old clips for 60 minutes. Charlie, 34, London
‘Steve Coogan has turned into a bore’
Unbearable; the whole series was not enjoyable or entertaining. Steve Coogan has turned into a bore and lost the plot. I would advise him to stick to impressions. Sheila, retired, north Wales
‘Hilarious to the extent that it makes you feel borderline insane’
This is the greatest iteration of Partridge. The highs have been astonishing. It’s often been so funny that I have had to repress my own laughter in order to hear the next joke. It is the most subtle, detailed and realistic version of Alan, but for some reason episodes two and six were the weakest. Overall, I’m extraordinarily grateful and I know I will watch this forever, like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Larry Sanders Show or Seinfeld. Hilarious to the extent that it makes you feel borderline insane. Joe, 33, Bury
‘It deserves a second series’
The series has progressively gotten better throughout (though I think Lynn has been treated too harshly in her rare apperences), and the decision to throw Alan in the deep end without Jennie was an unexpected stroke of genius. Tim Key’s performance of Simon was note perfect, amping up the lost and confused nature he usually holds to 11, right down to some uncomfortable yet subtle movements and stares to the camera. In fact, the whole episode was uncomfortable yet subtle. All in all a work of genius scripting that deserves a second series in whatever form it may take. Michael Gibbs, 17, Saffron Walden
‘Genius from start to finish’
The whole series was genius from start to finish. Much as I loved his early work, the evolution, growth and development across genres and media has just kept on elevating the character. It’s not just Alan, though – all the little things happening on and off screen have added up to something both deep and magnificent. For me, this and the audiobooks are the pinnacle of Partridge. Sam, 37, Cambridge
