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On set with Steve Coogan

By Jimi Famurewa

On set with Steve Coogan

Back in February, while all right-thinking people were warmly tucked up indoors, I spent eight hours on the shivering Cromer Pier set of Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

There were extras dressed as armed police eating frozen Curly Wurlies and megastar comedians embracing hot water bottles. It was weird. But it only got weirder when I had to interview Steve Coogan under the glare of two DVD documentary cameras and a growing mass of fans all wondering why North Norfolk’s premier broadcaster was being badgered by a bloke in a green bobble hat.

Thankfully, the sight of people scrabbling to touch the hem of Alan’s sports casual garment has been recorded here for the ages.

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