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Once again, Alan Partridge faces turmoil! However, many are in similar straits today? In his last TV appearance, Alan had an on-air breakdown while hosting the light magazine show This Time, concluding the season by being shut out of the BBC. As his latest self-made endeavor begins, the light documentary How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), the broadcaster reveals he’s encountered further difficulties by collapsing onto a woman during an interview at a business function for a Norfolk feed company. Challenging periods, yet figures like Partridge recover: link personal issues to broader trends and try to develop a program from it.

Delving into Stress and Loneliness

How Are You? then, sees Steve Coogan’s immortal alter ego in investigative guise, examining a wave of mental health issues that he believes is intensifying: “To put it simply, it’s become insane!” His path includes dabbling in faith, reconnect with friends from school, and enjoy therapeutic hikes, as well as confronting his recent past. Episode one builds towards a hostile but cathartic reunion with “Sidekick” Simon Denton (Tim Key), an ex-co-worker from broadcasting days, and as this new series goes on, hidden moments from his career emerge.

Alongside his co-writers and directors, How Are You? is a sideways move. In contrast to earlier innovations, How Are You? frequently revisits old themes: along with bringing back former styles, it mirrors earlier faux-documentaries from the 2010s. And, as Alan’s private life bleeds into his investigations, viewers will think of his podcast work.

Dual Personas of the Character

This leads to a minor issue. The character has two facets: Triumphant Alan (in prime roles) and Struggling Alan (without work), and although Wilderness Alan was the star of the faultless TV sitcom I’m Alan Partridge back in 1997, a more wistful Wilderness Alan has recently taken flight in books and audio projects. How Are You? brings us into his space and casts Katherine Kelly as Katrina, his highly inappropriate love interest from the podcast. Yet this heartbreaking narrative – Alan is in denial about Katrina cheating on him with a pal and business owner – feels like one that would have benefited from the slower pace of audio-only Alan, enabling mental imagery to amplify laughs. When we can’t see him, Wilderness Alan has room to breathe: modern TV excels at pressuring the successful Alan and seeing his downfall, as in past series.

Humor in Mistakes

Yet, these issues pale beside a key reality: in any format, he is the top humorous character in Britain, and temporary versions still offer huge comedy than other TV programs. How Are You? is produced and directed by Alan, as well as starring him, which highlights his talent for mistakes and bad choices. If he thinks Britain’s mental health problems are best illustrated by an aggressively edited montage of exploding fruit, it will be included, and no one corrects his verbal errors or other mistakes in commentary. The subtle wince he shows off-camera sensing the scene went poorly always delights, and likewise for his interlude creations, topped by his earnest, flawed grins while gulping down a brew.

Memorable Scenes and Sentiments

Is there anything more joyous than Alan grunting as he squats down next to a skip? Definitely not. His appearance is equally entertaining, with a poorly chosen hair shade, and his 2025 wardrobe featuring mustard chinos, contrasting shoes, multiple gilets and an enthusiastic overreaction to the news that rugby shirts are back in fashion.

Moreover, the content reveals his deeper side that appeared under new creative guidance. Repeatedly, the show achieves emotional depth, where his ignorance uncovers sorrow that nearly brings viewers to tears, then the comedy returns and laughter resumes. That can happen because we’ve loved him for so long: all iterations are gladly received.