Steve Coogan has said his Irish character Martin Brennan will return – and he plans to sing us another song.
In 2019, Coogan, whose parents are both from Ireland, caused a stir when he appeared as Martin Brennan, Alan Partridge’s Irish double, in an episode of spoof magazine show, This Time with Alan Partridge.
The Sligo farmer, all bad teeth and plastered hair, could easily have become an offensive caricature but Coogan is of Irish stock so it was accepted when Martin sang his own rendition of Come Out, Ye Black and Tans.
In a scene that became the standout moment from the whole series, Martin scandalised bungling TV host Alan when he performed an impromptu rendition of Come Out, Ye Black and Tans, followed by a verse of The Men Behind the Wire.
He became a social media icon and Coogan has revealed his Irish double will return to our screens in the new Alan Partridge stage show, which comes to the 3Arena in Dublin on Saturday – Sunday April 23rd – 24th, with new tickets now on sale for his Sunday show.
He said: “Yes he will be making an appearance definitely on the jumbo screen and there will be a song and this time Alan might join in with the song so there might be a duet between Alan and Martin Brennan”.
Stratagem with Alan Partridge Live will see Alan host a TED talk styled event, where he aims to inspire his guests and outline a roadmap for a better tomorrow, in his own unique and comedic hosting style.
Speaking to Ian Dempsey on his breakfast show on Today FM, the comedy giant opened up about his Irish heritage, saying he feels “fully entrenched in Ireland”.
He said: “I’m one of those split personality Brits who’s fully entrenched in Ireland. I grew up feeling Irish and it’s held me in good stead because I think there’s something I share with a lot of people who are a product of the diaspora which is to hold the establishment at arms length if you like.
“And don’t go in for flag waving certainly. I mean the Union Jack is one thing, but the St George’s flag is something I can’t abide frankly. If you are creative, being slightly at arm’s length from what you regard as the establishment is a good thing, a healthy thing.”
Speaking about upcoming Alan Partridge projects, Coogan said he hopes Partridge will come to Ireland some day.
“We’ll probably do a documentary series where Alan goes on an odyssey around the British Isles. I think it would be remiss of me not to come to Ireland. I think he has to. He would definitely come as an outsider trying to learn by putting his foot in it.
“I always thought it would be nice to do a musical about his life. Who knows, I certainly don’t rule anything out.”
Coogan is set to play sex offender Jimmy Savile in the upcoming series The Reckoning.
“It’s all finished. I’m very happy with it. I understand a lot of people will be very anxious about it for understandable reasons but I always feel that anything like that, any topic which is controversial by its nature or anything which is about looking at an uncomfortable period, in terms of certainly an uncomfortable period for the media in our recent past, on balance it’s always better to talk about things that have happened than not talk about it and this is just an extension of that.
“We teased through that script and made sure every scene earned its place and we also had a dialogue with the victims who came to visit the set and were pretty much supportive by and large about what we were doing because it’s a story that has to be told however unpalatable. And sometimes there are uncomfortable truths that people who we regard as charismatic, and we’re seduced by them can also have these dark secrets. I think it will vindicate itself when it comes out”.
And after four series of The Trip set in England, Italy, Spain and Greece, he said there could be a chance the series could be set in Ireland in the future.
“You don’t have to convince me. The last time when we went to Greece, I did lobby Michael Winterbottom (director) to say why don’t we go to Ireland cause you know I know a bit about it and I know that Rob (Brydon) doesn’t know a lot about it being Welsh so I’d have a head start but that didn’t occur.
“But certainly, I’ve still got a few years left in me so I certainly would like to do something in Ireland, it's on my radar.”
