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Alan Partridge finds himself in a predicament! Yet, who isn’t struggling nowadays? In his last TV appearance, Alan had an on-air breakdown while fronting the entertainment series This Time, concluding the season by being shut out of the BBC. In the opening of his independent production, the non-fiction piece How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), the broadcaster reveals he’s encountered further difficulties by passing out in front of a guest at an industry gathering for an agricultural firm. Challenging periods, yet figures like Partridge recover: link personal issues to broader trends and see if you can get a series out of it.

Exploring the Epidemic of Anxiety

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!” The journey will see him experiment with religion, reconnect with friends from school, and embark on calming rural strolls, as well as confronting his recent past. Initial episodes culminate in a fraught but healing gathering with “Sidekick” Simon Denton (Tim Key), an ex-co-worker from broadcasting days, and as the episodes progress, hidden moments from his career emerge.

With Coogan and his creative partners, How Are You? marks a change of pace. Whereas This Time pushed Partridge into new territory, How Are You? sometimes rehashes past ideas: in addition to resurrecting classic structures, the whole piece resembles the mockumentaries from the 2010s. With his personal issues seeping into the content, we’re most strongly reminded of the podcast series.

Contrasting Alans

This leads to a minor issue. There are two Alans: Successful Alan (with high-profile jobs) and Wilderness Alan (doesn’t), and despite Wilderness Alan leading the beloved show I’m Alan Partridge back in 1997, a nostalgic take has developed in books and audio projects. How Are You? situates us in his world and features Kelly as Katrina, his highly inappropriate love interest from the podcast. Yet this heartbreaking narrative – he refuses to accept her betrayal with an acquaintance and entrepreneur – feels like one that would have benefited from the slower pace of audio-only Alan, where the listener’s imagination can co-write the comedy. Off-screen, the character feels more expansive: modern TV excels at pressuring the successful Alan and seeing his downfall, as in past series.

Humor in Mistakes

These, however, are quibbles in the face of one large, undeniable fact: across all platforms, he delivers the most laughs in Britain, and even placeholder Partridge has more laughs-out-loud per half-hour than other TV programs. How Are You? has Alan in multiple creative roles, which opens up his genius for sloppy errors and poor editorial decisions. If explosive fruit edits symbolize struggles, viewers will see it, and he remains unchecked on misspeaking or other mistakes in commentary. The brief pained expression he makes exiting aware that the segment was a failure consistently amuses, and the same goes for his transitional clips, topped by his earnest, flawed grins while simultaneously swallowing a mouthful of humble British tea.

Memorable Scenes and Sentiments

Is there anything more joyous than Alan grunting as he squats down next to a skip? Surely not. He is also a visual treat, with an implausibly light hair color, and his 2025 wardrobe featuring mustard chinos, black-and-white pundit pumps, multiple gilets and an enthusiastic overreaction to the news that rugby shirts are back in fashion.

Moreover, the content reveals his deeper side that have been there ever since the Gibbons brothers took over co-writing duties. Several times, it delivers poignant moments, where Alan’s lack of self-awareness reveals a sadness that nearly brings viewers to tears, then the comedy returns and laughter resumes. That can happen because we’ve loved him for so long: any version of Alan Partridge is always welcome back.