I'm Alan Partridge: Your views

Steve Coogan revives a much-loved character

The Talented Mr Alan sees the return of Steve Coogan's cringe-worthy character, Alan Partridge, a DJ on Radio Norwich.

Fans are eager to see Partridge spinning the records again after a five year absence and there are rumours that he has a new girlfriend.

"There are many, many moments that are good: his desperation for success, his aching self-delusion, all of that is back and very well done but there is some spark missing," wrote the BBC's William Gallagher.

But what did you think?

This debate is now closed. Please see below for a selection of your comments.

'Back of the net!' - Alan's back and I laughed the whole way. A great start to the new series but please bin the canned laughter, it's just not needed. Steve Coogan is confirmed as a comedy God!
Tom, UK

Initially, I was a little disappointed by the first of the new series but having had time to contemplate it in the car I've realised that it really was classic Alan. His new girlfriend, his recent obesity and his claim to have the 3rd best radio spot in Norwich all bodes well for a great new series. "Cashback!"
Walli, England

Tremendous! Alan's humour has changed a little but is still just as amusing, I thought his video was fantastic also, only Alan could have got away with that. And as for the punchline - "Back of the Net!"
James Anthony esq., Winsford/Crewe, UK

Alan Partridge looked truly awesome. It kept the strengths of the original series, whilst introducing potentially hillarious new characters, e.g his 33 year old girlfriend. "Back of the net!"
Jim Harvey, UK

Not in the same league as The Office. Alan is still telling the same joke.
Mike, UK

Lose the canned laughter!
Alec Weir, UK

Absolutely bloody brilliant - Alan back to his usual very high standard. All we need to see now is Alan and David Brent joining forces to do management seminars - Alan talks about how he has bounced back and David can give it his motivational talk! How great would that be!
El Ganderto, UK

Glad to see Alan back on TV. Still as crass and insensitive as ever. However his bitterness at what he saw as the BBC's betrayal of him seems to have gone, which is a shame. The man who once claimed to be "A National TV presenter trapped in the body of a regional disc jockey" now seems content with his slot on Radio Norwich and his cable TV show "Skirmish!".
Paul Oates, UK

Cracking stuff!!
Damian, UK

It's not as original as it was, and the laughter track is annoying but still it has more classic quotes than you could ever wish for! Also rewards repeat viewing.
Sam Smith, UK

Having been an avid Coogan fan, I feel that those that say "Oh it's different to the first series" are missng the point. The character needed to be updated, and as far as I m concerned it's all there, the cringing, the irritating stupidity and the laughing till you have an accident. Back of the net.
Sara, UK

Absolutely hilarious. Alan has come back even sadder than before. Brilliant stuff.
Neil Fawcett, UK

A bit daft. Alan went over the top. Some good lines, though. Just about worth another look.
Colin, UK

The best thing about the new series is Lynne's haircut

Jonathan Blake, UK

Great stuff - vintage Alan. The best thing about the new series is Lynne's haircut. Great catchphrase fodder as well - whoever thought of "cash-back!" is a genius!
Jonathan Blake, UK

I thought the first series of I'm Alan Partridge was excellent. Watching the first episode of the second series was a bit disappointing. I felt that the actors (especially Coogan) were trying too hard to get a laugh. I'm hoping that future episodes will be better and more like Classic Partridge, rather than forced.
Dan Fordham, England

Brilliant, absolutely superb. I've been waiting a long time for the second series of this excellent programme and have not been disappointed. Well done to all involved and this is another step towards proving Steve Coogan is a comedy genius
Bryan Hoch, Scotland

The make-up is a little improbable, the set-up is familiar but the one-liners are still top drawer

David, London, UK

The make-up is a little improbable, the set-up is familiar but the one-liners are still top drawer. But David Brent - more painful and more gags a minute - seems to have superseded the need for Alan.
David, London, UK

Still very funny and excellent to see Alan back, but why the overwhelming canned laughter? This is very distracting, removes any subtlety from the dialogue and situations, and detracts from the characterisation. It may have been five years but I can still figure out when to laugh without this sledgehammer prompt. Any chance of losing this before episode two?
Vicky Akrill, UK

I'm gutted. After a five-year wait, we've been "treated" to a poor version of the previous series. The strength of the last Partridge series shows was that they were so different to each other - we saw Alan rise on good chat times, then fall on bad tavern luck, but what has this series given us? Nothing new. Even the radio show gags were old. I love Partridge as much as anyone, but this was stretching it all too far - I think it's time he was put to rest for good.
Guy Lambert, UK

This TV show is contextually brilliant. The writers have their fingers well and truly on the pulse of modern Britain. With the TV schedules currently bursting with talentless wannabes, Alan Partridge can only be held up as a figurehead of everything they can expect of "fame" in the 21st century.
Charlie, UK

The spark is gone from our national treasure that once was Alan Partridge

Shaun, UK

I just finished watching the first episode in the new series. I really wanted to enjoy it as much as the other series. However, the spark is gone from our national treasure that once was Alan Partridge. I just hope it picks up as the series progresses.
Shaun, UK

Great new series, good to see Alan back - but ruined by the unnecessary laughter track. We actually missed some of the dialogue because the laughter went on too long. In any case we don't need to be prompted to laugh. The innate pathos and embarrassment of Alan makes a laughter track inappropriate, and it's very intrusive. Lose the laughter and it'll be great.
Martin and Jill Garnett, Wales

"Oooh, first class", brilliant, classic Partridge. One comment - look at League of Gentlemen without canned laughter - not nearly as funny! If it's not broken don't fix it!!
Nelkz, Brighton

Superb, classic Alan. The same crass lack of social grace, awareness and poise. Can someone tell me the story behind Dave Clifton moving from the breakfast show to the late night shift. I have to agree with the losing the canned laughter. It serves no purpose and detracts from much of the subtlety and the wonderful gag continuity that Coogan is a master of.
Tim Smart, UK

A great first show on this long awaited new series. It would be great to see Alan try to get back on the telly again but it looks promising. The comparison with David Brent is irrelevant as both are totally different and equally funny. Looking forward to more.
Kevin , Wales

No words can say how good it was to see him back, But CLASSIC! God bless Steve Coogan.
Henry Webb, UK

Please, please, please get rid of the canned laughter, what is the point of it? It is so annoying, and you can't hear what Alan says as loads of people trapped in a shed are laughing constantly. Aaaaaaa!
Will Finney, England

Get rid of the canned laughter - it made me think I was watching My Family, so I went and did something else.
John Hurst, Netherlands

Tawdry. Steve's make-up made me feel sick, as did the canned laughter. (I guess the latter was needed, because I sure didn't know when to laugh). Words like subtle, original and hilarious don't spring to mind.
Martin, Brighton, UK

The show was disappointing. While there were some great moments and quotes (see below!), the writers seem to have really overdone what made him so funny in the first place. For me this took away a lot of the subtlety and cleverness of the characterisation which was so brilliant in the first series. Let's hope it improves. I wouldn't want to see it go off the rails like Ali G did for instance.
Matt, England

It`s great to see Alan "back in the saddle", I loved the show last night, it was a bit different from a few years back. But nice to see he is still an idiot!! Keep up the good work!!
Deborah Chilton, Netherlands