Coogan in Character

In the course of 20-odd years in TV, film, radio, and stand-up, Steve Coogan has developed an impressively deep roster of provincial little-England losers. Herewith, a spotter's guide to some of Coogan's epic fictional failures—and, therefore, his greatest comedic successes

"I have someone on the line who fears he may be a gay. He's married, so shall only be using his Christian name. This is Domingo from Little Oakley!"

Alan Partridge

To follow the arc of Partridge's career—from radio sports presenter to TV talk-show host to midmorning man on a backwater digital station—is to witness the vicissitudes of quasi-fame. To follow his runaway trains of thought isto cringe. And yet it's futile to resist his every "A-ha!"

"I'm trying to give up two of my worst habits, smoking and masturbation, which I'm finding difficult, as I am a 20-a-day man, and I smoke like a chimney."

Paul Calf

Under-employed car mechanic Calf—a native of Coogan's fictional town of Ottle—is what Partridge might have become had his ambition been surgically removed. Replacing Partridge's striving is Calf's fury— a force aimed at everyone from students to his best friend, Fat Bob.

"Winston Churchill was a great speech-maker. You remember that one about the Iron Curtain descending across Europe? Well, I hope it was inkgalvanized orit would rust in days."

Ernest Moss

Persnickety handyman Moss is another native of Ottle, forever cocking a skeptical eyebrow at the inroads of progress. He epitomizes a deeply ingrained British outlook: the idea that yesterday was better than tomorrow—a notion that guarantees disappointment.

"In the words of Verhoeven's RoboCop—'Stay out oftrouble. And my face.'"

Tommy Saxondale

Hertfordshire resident Saxondale is a discontented exterminator and ex-rock roadie who is always an eruption away from detonating his business, his live-in relationship with girlfriend Magz, or his angermanagement group. But he's ever ready with a choice quote from Kipling or Bob Marley or Pink Floyd.

"I have this fantasy where, if I ever won a Golden Globe or an Academy Award, I'd use the opportunityto tell the Yanks how to make a decent cup of tea." .

"Steve Coogan"

His most excruciating characterof all. If we are all our own harshest critics, then Coogan is his own personaljohn Simon. Womanizer, drug user, fame whore, bad dad, careerist sad sack— Coogan pulls no punches when it comes to portraying himself.

JACK DELIGTER