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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alan Partridge Alpha Papa: Norwich homecoming for fictional DJ | Alan Partridge Alpha Papa: Norwich homecoming for fictional DJ |
| (6 days later) | |
| With its discount shops and brutalist architecture, Anglia Square is not even Norwich's most glamorous location, let alone the world's. | With its discount shops and brutalist architecture, Anglia Square is not even Norwich's most glamorous location, let alone the world's. |
| It's an unlikely venue for the world premiere of a new film, but when that movie is Alan Partridge's big-screen debut Alpha Papa it starts to make sense. | It's an unlikely venue for the world premiere of a new film, but when that movie is Alan Partridge's big-screen debut Alpha Papa it starts to make sense. |
| The Hollywood Cinema in Anglia Square was chosen to host the premiere after an online campaign by fans. | The Hollywood Cinema in Anglia Square was chosen to host the premiere after an online campaign by fans. |
| Steve Coogan's comedy character was born in King's Lynn but grew up in Norwich and considers the city home. | Steve Coogan's comedy character was born in King's Lynn but grew up in Norwich and considers the city home. |
| And after thousands of fans signed an online petition demanding "Anglia Square, not Leicester Square" for the premiere, producers Studiocanal relented and switched venues. | And after thousands of fans signed an online petition demanding "Anglia Square, not Leicester Square" for the premiere, producers Studiocanal relented and switched venues. |
| Guest of honour at the event was none other than Coogan himself, in character as Partridge. | Guest of honour at the event was none other than Coogan himself, in character as Partridge. |
| Tungsten-tipped screws | Tungsten-tipped screws |
| Around the square were specially-commissioned graffiti murals, including one that read "Welcome home Alan". | Around the square were specially-commissioned graffiti murals, including one that read "Welcome home Alan". |
| In a further surreal twist, a gorilla sculpture, designed to be an uncanny likeness of Alan, stood outside the cinema as part of the Go Go Gorillas art trail. | In a further surreal twist, a gorilla sculpture, designed to be an uncanny likeness of Alan, stood outside the cinema as part of the Go Go Gorillas art trail. |
| Tongues were firmly in cheeks as about 1,000 people, some in fancy dress, waited outside the cinema for a glimpse of their hero. | Tongues were firmly in cheeks as about 1,000 people, some in fancy dress, waited outside the cinema for a glimpse of their hero. |
| Some were dressed as Partridge himself and one woman had dressed as Lynn, his put-upon personal assistant. | Some were dressed as Partridge himself and one woman had dressed as Lynn, his put-upon personal assistant. |
| Others had fashioned their own zombie outfits from shower curtains and tungsten-tipped screws in homage to a costume created by a very bored Alan in a memorable episode of I'm Alan Partridge. | Others had fashioned their own zombie outfits from shower curtains and tungsten-tipped screws in homage to a costume created by a very bored Alan in a memorable episode of I'm Alan Partridge. |
| One carried "Alan's big plate" while two female students held a sign reading "I love you… in a way", a line of dialogue from the show. | One carried "Alan's big plate" while two female students held a sign reading "I love you… in a way", a line of dialogue from the show. |
| Andy O'Neill, 29, from Derby, was holding a sign reading: "We drove 171 miles to meet the legend Partridge." | Andy O'Neill, 29, from Derby, was holding a sign reading: "We drove 171 miles to meet the legend Partridge." |
| "I just find him very funny and liked the fact he was holding this event in Norwich," he said. | "I just find him very funny and liked the fact he was holding this event in Norwich," he said. |
| "Norwich seems nice. It was definitely worth the journey." | "Norwich seems nice. It was definitely worth the journey." |
| Georgina Bradford, 25, had travelled even further - from Cambodia, where she runs a bar. | Georgina Bradford, 25, had travelled even further - from Cambodia, where she runs a bar. |
| "We're all Alan-bonkers. The premiere was one of the big factors for us coming over now," she said. | "We're all Alan-bonkers. The premiere was one of the big factors for us coming over now," she said. |
| "Alan's the epitome of the Norfolk gentleman. He's funny, suave, daring - everything you could want in a man. | "Alan's the epitome of the Norfolk gentleman. He's funny, suave, daring - everything you could want in a man. |
| "Some say Norfolk is Nelson's county, but I say it's Alan's." | "Some say Norfolk is Nelson's county, but I say it's Alan's." |
| She was wearing an "Anglia Square, not Leicester Square" T-shirt which she later had signed by Partridge and plans to hang it on the wall of her bar, Monkey Republic, in Sihanoukville. | She was wearing an "Anglia Square, not Leicester Square" T-shirt which she later had signed by Partridge and plans to hang it on the wall of her bar, Monkey Republic, in Sihanoukville. |
| Genuine A-list celebrities were a little thin on the ground for the premiere. Former Norwich City footballers Iwan Roberts and Craig Fleming were probably the best-known names making their way along the red carpet. | Genuine A-list celebrities were a little thin on the ground for the premiere. Former Norwich City footballers Iwan Roberts and Craig Fleming were probably the best-known names making their way along the red carpet. |
| A compere assured fans that "Alan Gordon Partridge" had just clocked off his shift on the Mid Morning Matters show on North Norfolk Digital and would shortly be with them. | A compere assured fans that "Alan Gordon Partridge" had just clocked off his shift on the Mid Morning Matters show on North Norfolk Digital and would shortly be with them. |
| As they waited in the hot sun, hits by such Alan-friendly artists as Japan, Van Halen and Pat Benatar blared out over the PA. | As they waited in the hot sun, hits by such Alan-friendly artists as Japan, Van Halen and Pat Benatar blared out over the PA. |
| 'Game-changer' | 'Game-changer' |
| Abba's Knowing Me, Knowing You - the theme tune for Partridge's doomed TV chat show - got an especially warm response, the crowd joining in the with the "A-ha!" refrain. | Abba's Knowing Me, Knowing You - the theme tune for Partridge's doomed TV chat show - got an especially warm response, the crowd joining in the with the "A-ha!" refrain. |
| When Alan finally did arrive, it was in a silver people-carrier. | When Alan finally did arrive, it was in a silver people-carrier. |
| He jumped out, dressed in a baby blue safari suit with pink tie and fawn suede loafers, and waved to the crowd. | He jumped out, dressed in a baby blue safari suit with pink tie and fawn suede loafers, and waved to the crowd. |
| Taking the microphone, he addressed the crowd in typically bombastic style, announcing that his new film was a "game-changer". | Taking the microphone, he addressed the crowd in typically bombastic style, announcing that his new film was a "game-changer". |
| "It's one that could spark a cultural renaissance that is as cultural as the Renaissance. | "It's one that could spark a cultural renaissance that is as cultural as the Renaissance. |
| "This film is my love-letter to Norwich. I love Norwich." | "This film is my love-letter to Norwich. I love Norwich." |
| On his return to Norwich, he said: "It feels like sitting in a warm bath whilst having a cup of cocoa and peanut butter on toast whilst watching Air Crash Investigation on a TV - it feels good." | On his return to Norwich, he said: "It feels like sitting in a warm bath whilst having a cup of cocoa and peanut butter on toast whilst watching Air Crash Investigation on a TV - it feels good." |
| Asked what Norwich had that London did not, he said: "A lot of flat landscape, the Wash, reclaimed land - these are things that London doesn't have and will never have. | Asked what Norwich had that London did not, he said: "A lot of flat landscape, the Wash, reclaimed land - these are things that London doesn't have and will never have. |
| "My favourite location during filming was Cromer pier. I've been to Blackpool pier, Brighton pier, Southend pier but Cromer is quite simply the best pier." | "My favourite location during filming was Cromer pier. I've been to Blackpool pier, Brighton pier, Southend pier but Cromer is quite simply the best pier." |