22-07-2025
Steve Coogan: ‘Fawning podcast fans should get a life'
The comedian and award-winning actor, who hosts the weekly podcast Alan Partridge: From the Oasthouse, also took aim at the 'tsunami' of podcasts hosted by 'anyone with any confidence or conviction'.
'I do think the podcast bubble might be about to burst,' he said of the countless celebrity-hosted shows which have 'followers flock to them'.
Coogan has posed as his evergreen character Alan Partridge since 1991, when he was created for the BBC Radio 4 comedy programme On the Hour.
The comedian turned his hand to podcasting as the character in 2020, when podcasts exploded in popularity during the Covid pandemic.
Coogan, who writes the show with his long-time collaborators Neil and Rob Gibbons, explained: 'The podcast is stuff we want to do, that we're passionate about and we think is funny and relevant.'
He differentiates it from 'intimate chat' celebrity podcasts because every word of the show is scripted and rehearsed.
'People forget it's not real, it's all written,' Coogan said, adding: 'Even when Alan is going away on a train of thought, all that's been crafted so it's funny.'
The Telegraph described the first episode of the podcast as '25 minutes of sheer Partridge pleasure' in its review, saying Coogan's 'fictional alter ego is on top form'.
Political podcasts
Speaking about the crowded industry, the comedian said there 'used to be proper analysis' offered, particularly in political shows.
He explained: 'The problem with political podcasts is there are no solutions. There used to be proper analysis that was evidence-based with references and research.
'Now it's loads of people's gut feelings everywhere. They just like talking about politics, the game of it.'
While he didn't single any out by name, the actor said his focus remains on trying 'to get the balance between doing stuff that has some substance, without vanishing up my own arse, and doing things that are entertaining'.
He continued: 'If you go one way or the other, for me that's failing. I want it to be about something, but I don't want to be a bore.'
