VHS : Knowing Me, Knowing Yule [1994]

Rating: - a not-so-merry alan.
In the words of another reviewer on this page I'm a "nerdy, geekier" fan of the great Mr Partridge, (and I guess you can't get much nerdier or geekier than watching a Christmas special in July, and then writing about it!). This is Alan's t.v career in its death throes. as the planned Perry Como-ish Chrimbo special goes wrong all the way through, and he also makes the fatal error of upsetting Tony Hayes, the BBC head of programming (the one he famously later went on to punch with a cheese!). This whole show is shot through with pathos, most particularly in the add-on of his countryside ramble (which I think, from what I vaguely remember, was originally made for a Fry and Laurie Christmas special), where Alan's loneliness is quite painful to see. A good intro to the great, stupendous Travel Tavern series, but perhaps only essential buying for Alan obsessives like me!

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Rating: - Can These Be Dash Mounted?
After the stunning KMKYWAP series, this one off Christmas special, manages to stand alongside the original. Although stretched in places, this still has everything for the Alan fan to squelch with laughter to. And beleive me, there is plenty to be squelched.

Jews, gays, the disabled, Christians, Alan manages to upset them all in a rather fitting end to his chat show era. For this is Alan's downfall. This is where it all goes wrong - when he will never, never, work in broadcasting again. Or when his chat, falls flat. One can see the tragic fall of a once great chat show host as live from his home, his mock up home, he orchastrates his own career suicide.

It leads on well to I'm Alan Partridge, and is packed with great japes, notably a Christmas In Norwich. His guests are all interesting, not least as Alan loses his temper and rips them to shreads - metaphorically at least. Mary the Virgin, The Herons, Tony Hares and Fanny Thomas are all impressive, and well drawn characters. However, this final chat show outing does not quite reach the peak of the proper series, but it is still an essential purchase for any Alan fan - and let's face it, if you aren't then you are very seriously odd.

Included on the video is a bonus; A Christmas Ramble With Alan Partridge, which is an indicator for the more flawed and tragic Alan who features in I'm Alan Partridge, a slightly less funny, but still hilarious series.

In conclusion, this is exceptionally funny, although at less than an hour long, it will probably only really appeal to the slightly nerdy, geekier Alan addicts - I do include me in that synopsis.

So on that bombshell, all that remains for me to say is goodnight and Aha! Plus a special Aha to Nico!