Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV series)

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (also known as Knowing Me, Knowing You) is a BBC Television comedy series of six episodes (beginning 16 September 1994), and a Christmas special Knowing Me, Knowing Yule on 29 December 1995. It is named after the song "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA (the main character's favourite band), a rendition of which was used as the show's title music. Steve Coogan plays the incompetent but self-satisfied Norwich-based talk show host Alan Partridge, who often insults his guests and humiliates himself in the process. Alan was a spin-off character from the spoof radio show On the Hour (which later transferred to TV as The Day Today). Knowing Me, Knowing You was written by Coogan, Armando Iannucci (who produced the radio version) and Patrick Marber (who also starred), with contributions from the regular supporting cast of Doon Mackichan, Rebecca Front and David Schneider, who played Alan's weekly guests. Steve Brown provided the show's music and arrangements, and also appeared as Glenn Ponder, the man in charge of the house band (the name of which changed, without explanation, every episode).

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
Knowing Me, Knowing You titlescreen
GenreComedy
(spoof chat show)
Created bySteve Coogan
Armando Iannucci
Patrick Marber
Directed byDominic Brigstocke
StarringSteve Coogan
Steve Brown
Rebecca Front
Patrick Marber
David Schneider
Doon Mackichan
Theme music composerABBA
Opening theme"Knowing Me, Knowing You" by the Steve Brown Band
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes7 including one Christmas special (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerPeter Fincham
ProducerArmando Iannucci
Running time28–32 min
46 min (Christmas Special)
Release
Original networkBBC2
Picture formatPAL (576i) 4:3
Audio formatStereo
Original release16 September (1994-09-16) 
21 October 1994
(Christmas Special shown on 29 December 1995)
Chronology
Preceded byKnowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (Radio series)
Followed byI'm Alan Partridge
External links
Website

Alan went on to appear in two series of the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge, following his life after both his marriage and TV career come to an end, though the latter was subsequently revived. It was generally well received by fans and critics, and was nominated for a BAFTA and a British Comedy Award.

Format

Knowing Me, Knowing You is a parody of a chat show. It featured a live audience whose laughter meant viewers were unlikely to mistake the show for a real chat show. Some of the guests parodied real-life appearances on chat shows. For example, the medical fashion parade by Yvonne Boyd is a reference to Vivienne Westwood's appearance on Wogan.

Script and broadcast versions

In total there have been three 'official' versions of the television series prepared by producer Armando Iannucci – the originally transmitted half-hour version (also used in most repeats and abroad), a version extended by roughly five minutes per episode for the VHS and subsequent DVD release, and a version prepared for BBC Two's 2002 Partridge repeat season, again in a thirty-minute slot but now featuring reinstated material from the video version (such as Partridge's promotion of the Sprünt drink brand) and a generally tighter edit to compensate for the running time, in addition to the Partridge web address being added to the end credits. In 2013, the latter version was made available for streaming on Netflix. In the original transmission of episode 2, the dialogue in which the character Gary Barker referred to 'punching Jessica Tandy' had to be dubbed over with a reference to Angela Lansbury instead, due to the very recent death of the former.

Reception

The Austin Chronicle called it "one of the most hilarious satirical comedies in recent memory".[1]

Episodes

Transmission date House band Rebecca Front Patrick Marber David Schneider Doon Mackichan Other guests Another Alan
116 September 1994Glenn Ponder and ChaletSue Lewis, a quiet showjumperKeith Hunt, new host of This Is Your LifeBig Red Book on This Is Your Life (untransmitted sequence)Shona McGough, an abrasive punk singerKeith's son, Shona's band and Roger Moore (voice; performed by Steve Coogan)-
223 September 1994Glenn Ponder and DebonairTania Beaumont, actressGary Barker, washed-up actor and Tania's husbandTony LeMesmer, magician-Daniella Forrest, transgender Playboy columnist (Minnie Driver)A sailor with a facial tic (John Thomson)
330 September 1994Glenn Ponder and FerrariGina Langland, singerLawrence Knowles, a sleazy promoterClive Sealy, Lawrence's dermatologist-The Olympic Golden Girls of 1936; Hot Pants, an all-male strip troupe-
47 October 1994Glenn Ponder and Savoir FaireYvonne Boyd, a fashion designer with odd ideasPhilippe Lambert, famous but arrogant French chefHead of Cirque des Clowns, a very risqué mime act-Nina Vanier, Alan's French co-host (Melanie Hudson)Alain Perdrix, who couldn't speak English
514 October 1994Glenn Ponder and LazarusCharlotte Fraser (Lab)Martin Dwyer, alias Lt. Col. Kojak Slaphead III (Bald Brummies Against The Big-Footed Conspiracy Party)Adrian Finch (Con)-Terry Norton, dodgy boxing promoter (Alan Ford); Five Miss Norwich contestants (Barbara Durkin, plus four uncredited); Ronald Biggs (Lib Dem) (Felix Dexter)Dead, but appeared in a coffin with his family
621 October 1994Glenn Ponder and BangkokBridie McMahon, lesbian host of the show to take Alan's placeForbes McAllister, cynical restaurant critic for The SpectatorUnnamed Police SergeantWanda Harvey, Bridie's lesbian co-hostThe Alan Partridge Playmates; the Maclean brothers, irritating child film-makers; Joe Beazley and Cheeky Monkey, awful ventriloquist act (John Thomson)-
729 December 1995Glenn Ponder and his "friend" AndyMary, a bellringer and devout ChristianGordon Heron, a paralysed former golferTony Hayers, Chief Commissioning Editor of BBC TelevisionLiz Heron, Gordon's wife and also a golferFanny Thomas, innuendo-using transvestite (Kevin Eldon), Mick Hucknall-

References

  1. Sauer, Jess (2 December 2005). "Review: Knowing Me, Knowing You – Screens – The Austin Chronicle". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
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