Alan Partridge (Brookside)

Alan Partridge is a fictional character in Channel 4 soap Brookside. He was portrayed by Dicken Ashworth from 1983 until 1984. He was the first resident to live at No. 6 (the bungalow).

Background

Alan was introduced as a computer expert, which represented for producer Phil Redmond the 'micro-electronic technical revolution' of the early 1980s.^[1] At the time he moved in he had a long-term partner, Samantha (Sam, played by Dinah May) who lived elsewhere.

Introduction

Alan turned up on the close on 5 April 1983; one day before he moves in and measures the outside of his house by striding around much the amusement of neighbours Paul, Annabelle, Roger and Petra.

Relationships

While other families in Brookside were bringing more socially-observant stories regarding employment, trade-unionism, the black market and other issues of the Zeitgeist, the stories involving Alan principally related to his love-life. After moving onto Brookside Close, he asked his partner Sam to marry him; while she refused his offer, she did agree to live with him.

Later Sam asked Alan to marry her; however, when the day came, she jilted him and left for Los Angeles. Alan then got together with his former partner Liz. After Alan got into trouble for plagiarism after helping Gordon Collins sell one of his computer programmes, he realised Liz was behind it and threw her out. In revenge for this, Liz arranged for Alan to be attacked and he was viciously assaulted.

When Sam returned from Los Angeles, she and Alan got back together. They married on 17 July 1984, being the first 'Brookside wedding' nearly two years into the soap.^[2]

After marrying, they left and moved to Kuwait.^[3]

References