People are convinced that Richard Madeley was the inspiration for Steve Coogan’s most famous character
(Picture: PA)It has now been almost three months since Piers Morgan’s explosive exit from Good Morning Britain (GMB), and the gaping hole he has left in the show remains to be filled.
Rumours have swirled over who could replace the broadcasting behemoth, with the likes of Ben Shephard, Adil Ray and Kay Burley all among the potential candidates.
Presenting legend Richard Madeley, 64, has been tipped as a frontrunner, having admitted he’d be “bonkers” to turn down the role if ITV were to give him a call.
The formerThis Morning host returned to the spot on Thursday – having stood in for Morgan on GMB a number of times already – to the delight of fans.
But poor Madeley can’t seem to escape the constant comparisons drawn between him and Alan Partridge.
Steve Coogan’s alter-ego is known for making bizarre analogies and executing stomach-churning gaffes.
So why are people likening the Richard and Judy icon to the UK’s favourite fictional radio host? Here’s just some of the evidence they’ve compiled:
The seatbelt / going through the window comment is pure Alan Partridge; exactly the kind of tangent (and with the same kind of brutal detail) he goes off on.#GMB #ThisTime #AlanPartridge #ThisTimeWithAlanPartridge https://t.co/OtDX1DAe0e
— John Featherstone (@johnfeath) June 3, 2021
As #RichardMadeley trends (inevitably, because he's presenting Good Morning Britain), what better time to share 77 seconds of his most #AlanPartridge moments from 'Meets The Squatters' (the title itself sounds like a desperate Partridge TV pitch): https://t.co/BszuoA0mTl
— That Eaton-Jones Fellow (@BarnabyEJ) June 3, 2021
I know Steve Coogan has said that Alan Partridge is based on a mixture of people but he's not he is just Richard Madeley https://t.co/FgWs0ppajF
— The Right Connorable Gentleman (@JDConnor93) April 22, 2021
#thisismyhouse
— Francie Boylan (@FrancisBoylan) April 22, 2021
"You would never say that on television" says Richard Madeley. 👀
https://t.co/abqqqeFMLb
Lordy. I never realised. Richard Madeley IS Alan Partridge. https://t.co/xiZJABRPCw
— Carl Passion (@carlpassion1) April 22, 2021
Especially if we get more Partridge channelling! https://t.co/6Dv0chEJzH
— Benjamin Fearn (@bjlfearn) April 23, 2021
Fact: We have never seen Richard Madeley and Alan Partridge in the same room… #GMB #ThisTime https://t.co/dxq4PjAqBE
— Bentendo 🍄 (@littlesmegger) April 23, 2021
Seem to remember Steve Coogan saying that Richard Madeley reckoned he got the joke without getting that Alan Partridge was based on daytime presenters like him. That really is a perfect example.
— Colin Fletcher 3.5% 💙 (@ColinFl80111099) April 23, 2021
I imagine the convo was like
— Sariella -The Vampire Barbie 🌹🦇 (@SariellaForever) April 22, 2021
TV Exec - Can we get Alan Partridge...
runner - No, he is not real
TV Exec - But I do like Partridge tho' did you see him on the one show
Runner - that was a comed... Look Partridge is booked. But watch this guy he's similar
Exec - Back of the net! pic.twitter.com/C98kCCm1D9
And here’s how they responded to his latest appearance on the breakfast show.
A-ha! Audtions for Alan Partridge's replacement on This Time are under way. https://t.co/nUValJtsn7
— Tim Fellows (@timrugby13) June 3, 2021
Will the real Alan Partridge please stand up @richardm56 https://t.co/IOk9bP6OLH
— Baz Nugent (@baznugent73) June 3, 2021
Richard Madeley gets more like Alan Partridge every time he's on the telly 😂😂😂 #GMB
— 👸🏻 Queen Wee Linz 👸🏻 (@Wee_Linz_) June 3, 2021
The drawing of parallels between the two stalwarts of British TV is nothing new.
In 2014, an entire social media account was created with the sole purpose of asking followers: “Who said the quote – Richard Madeley or Alan Partridge?”
"Let me ask you this. Has Mick Hucknall ever released a bad song?" pic.twitter.com/kjoh9YEMkz
— Madeley or Partridge (@WhoSaidItQuotes) September 17, 2015
Madeley himself has addressed the mockery, telling The Sun back in 2019: “If people want to take the p***, that’s fine. It’s a harmless joke.
“I can take it. I don’t take myself even remotely seriously. I know some people do, and they get offended by being teased — but it’s only teasing.”
He echoed such sentiments in an interview with Metro earlier this week when asked if he could handle the online abuse dished out to the likes of Morgan.
“I personally couldn’t give a f***,” he said candidly. “Far too many younger presenters have been affected by Twitter and cowed by it.”
He clearly seems braced for the challenge.
Reports have suggested that the 64-year-old could begin a GMB trial run alongside co-host Susanna Reid this month.
A source told The Sun that his journalistic experience and no-nonsense approach would make him a great fit for Morgan’s shoes.
They told the paper: “Piers is nigh-on impossible to replace and GMB execs accept this, but Richard has his own inimitable style.
“Like Piers, he’s a trained journalist who knows how to press guests and get a decent line from interviewees.
“He shoots from the hip, says what he thinks, and is a genuinely brilliant, likeable chap off air — so it’s very much a ‘watch this space’.”
Oh we will, don’t worry. We will.
