Back of the net… TV legend Alan Partridge is being honoured with his own festival in his home city of Norwich.
Some 300 fans of Steve Coogan’s classic comedy character are travelling from as far afield as Amsterdam and LA to enjoy the eight-hour extravaganza.
The bash on March 21 will feature games, a quiz and a star from the hit BBC show – on which Alan delivered classic lines including “Smell my cheese, you mother” and “Kiss my face”.
Paul Wassell, 34, decided to stage We’re Just Fans, Alan: The Alan Partridge Festival last summer after realising that despite being in a fans’ group he had never been to any kind of meet-up.
The former teacher, now an education writer, said: “We are going to have a quiz, an air guitar competition, lots of Partridge-themed games and a really nice meal. I’ve loved Alan ever since I was at school and I would endlessly quote it with my mates and my family.”
Paul, from Stourbridge, West Mids, is working on the event with wife Emily and hopes to get children Stefan, five, and Saskia, two, into the show.
He said he is also looking forward to visiting Norwich, where the event is on at the Mercure Hotel, as he has never been before.
And he added: “We’ve got a special guest coming but their identity is a surprise – guests won’t know until the day.
"I wrote to Steve about a year ago and haven’t had a response. But I think he is aware and if he wants to come he is more than welcome.”
Paul has been scouring charity shops and eBay to source props including shuttlecocks, a Cliff Thorburn snooker guide, some Terry’s Chocolate Oranges and Dr Pepper.
Coogan, 54, created Partridge to parody British TV personalities and he works as a DJ on the fictional Radio Norwich after losing his BBC chat show.
Coogan debuted the character on radio in 1991 and moved to TV with him in 1994.
Partridge’s latest TV outing was 2019 series This Time With Alan Partridge and he hit the silver screen in 2013 film Alpha Papa – which had its premiere at the Hollywood Cinema in Norwich’s Anglia Square.
The festival comes after TripAdvisor named rival neighbour Ipswich in its top 25 of up-and-coming tourist destinations.
Visitors to the town can take in the statue of football manager Bobby Robson, who bossed its club, and the Orwell Bridge – England’s longest concrete crossing.
Tickets to We’re Just Fans, Alan: The Alan Partridge Festival are available at eventbrite.co.uk
