This Time with Alan Partridge goes down a storm with viewers

Alan Partridge returned to the BBC on Monday night after a 24-year hiatus.

This Time with Alan Partridge was a piece of excruciating genius which went down a treat with viewers.

The One Show-style news programme sees Steve Coogan’s comic creation awkwardly bumble his way through 30 minutes of studio time with his long-suffering, joke-stealing sidekick Jennie Gresham played brilliantly by Susannah Fielding.

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In one skit in the debut episode, during a segment on personal hygiene, Partridge gave a demonstration of how to use public toilets without touching anything at all with your hands.

It’s already one of the greatest TV moments of the year…

https://twitter.com/bbccomedy/status/1100150714763038720

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https://twitter.com/Vicki_Moonshine/status/1100191078920146944

His mis-pronunciation, to put it mildly, of a guest’s name was another highlight…

https://twitter.com/scottygb/status/1100149086722973697

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And a lot of viewers were speculating which real-life TV presenters today’s Partridge might be inspired by…

https://twitter.com/Jakedanashb/status/1100148837778370560

https://twitter.com/darshnasoni/status/1100150903879929856

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Co-star Fielding thanked viewers for watching, and with five more episodes to go she's clearly relieved the show has got off on the right foot.

https://twitter.com/Misssusannahf/status/1100163833300168704

And we’ll just leave this horrifying picture of Partridge’s wig here…