ALAN Partridge was first introduced as part of a radio show called On The Hour, where he was a hapless sports reporter, who seemed to know very little about the sports he was talking about and frequently failed as an interviewer.

He then graduated to his own TV show, which went disastrously wrong and he ended up back at North Norfolk Digital as a DJ – where he first started his career.

Up until now Partridge’s life has been portrayed in all media formats except film.

There has been a sense of expectation that he would get his own feature film, but the concern, as with all half hour comedy formats, would be if it could transfer to a big screen outing.

Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) is the presenter of Mid Morning Matters for a Norwich radio broadcaster.

They have just been taken over by a new media conglomerate.

Alan barges into a meeting of the new board, ostensibly to fight for the job of his colleague Pat (Colm Meaney), but realises that it’s a question of either him or Pat being sacked, so changes his tune.

The newly unemployed Pat then takes a load of hostages at North Norfolk Radio armed with a shotgun, and will only talk to the police through his 'friend' Alan Partridge – unaware it was he who cost him his job in the first place.

Alan begins to enjoy the effects of his new found publicity, but it might come at the expense of his conscience.

Having expected it not to work, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is really rather fun.

It’s funny and, most importantly, has a real heart to it.

The somewhat cringe inducing humour which pervaded the TV series has been wisely toned down, and allows the story to work as a film.

The filmmakers have created a more dramatic plotline at the heart of the story but which still allows Alan to work his magic.

Coogan essentially is Partridge, so it is hard to see where one starts and the other ends.

It is, however, a remarkable characterisation that has been going for over 20 years.

Fans of Partrige will love this, and it is accessible to other British audiences as well.

I’m not entirely convinced it will do well in America but that remains to be seen.

7.5/10 Andrew Shepherd