Whole lot of roadie! ... Steve Coogan and rockin' friends in Saxondale
That increasingly rare curio, a deserved second series for a BBC comedy, emerges tonight with the return of Tommy Saxondale, Steve Coogan's acutely observed ex-roadie with the anger management issues. While his personal life has been fraught with his forays into tabloid love skunk country Coogan has, for the best part of two decades, been a consistently inventive comic and character actor, developing way beyond his impressionist roots. With the pest-controlling rocker back, it's a good time to look at those top 10 Coogan moments from his impressive career.
1. Papa Bendi Arguably his weakest character, Tony Ferrino produced his finest moment, Papa Bendi - the Eurovision triumph of novelty over melody. Terry Wogan cameos and plays it like a pro.
2. Alan Partridge - DAN! Alan Partridge was doing the comedy of social embarrassment while David Brent was still a twinkle in Ricky Gervais's eye.
3. Alan Partridge dances to Music For Chameleons Often, it's the attention to detail that counts. Alan Partridge playing air bass to Gary Numan reveals more about the character than a thousand-page biography.
4. A Cock and Bull Story They said Tristram Shandy could not be adapted but A Cock and Bull Story was an unqualified triumph with the comedic pissing contest between Coogan and Rob Brydon producing the stand-out moments.
5. Alan Partridge's World Cup Countdown At a stroke, the one man Colemanballs enters several phrases into the comedy lexicon. This, my friends, is liquid football.
6. Tony Wilson Meets God When Tony Wilson tragically met his maker last week, you can't help thinking it went something like this.
7. Paul Calf An age before chavscum and ASBOs, Coogan was nailing the characteristics of the northern working-class male with Paul Calf, his affectionate portrayal of masculinity gone wrong. Then of course there was ...
8. Pauline Calf Everyone knows a Pauline. Sink-estate chic rarely looks this good. And just as with her brother, she was fashioned with love and without condescension.
9. The Day Today "do I look cool?" This anti-speeding campaign spoof appears to be the template for every government-sponsored drink-driving push ever since.
10. Dr Terrible's House of Horrible It got lukewarm reviews but Dr Terrible was a nuanced and funny homage to the British horror film. Here, he grapples with lesbian vampires. Courtney Love was unavailable for comment.
So, what are your favourite Coogan moments?
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