Remainer Coogan conflicted over poking fun at Brexit

STEVE COOGAN has said he was conflicted about addressing Brexit in a new series featuring his Alan Partridge character.

The hit comedy returns to BBC One next year with Alan’s Little Englander attitude prime for unpicking the EU vote.

However, the actor and comedian’s position as a Remainer left him unsure over whether to take on the issue.

“The world has coalesced into a situation that is sympathetic to Alan, which for me is quite depressing,” he told the Radio

Times. “Sometimes I agree with Alan but on Brexit I’m a Remainer, and I feel quite conflicted about it.”

He eventually decided to include the topic as “having a fool praise something is a far more powerful indictment than just criticising it”.

“Also, Alan can be like the boy who says the emperor’s wearing no clothes,” he said. “Unbelievably, you look around at the world now and see that there are still broadcasters with full-on redblooded Alan-like attitudes.

“We thought we had thoroughly debunked that. It just shows how little influence you actually have on the national culture.”

Coogan also revealed he thought Alan would dislike him if they met in person.

He said: “I don’t think Alan would like me.

“If we met, Alan would say to me, ‘Oh, stop being provocative. Please say funny things and just leave it at that’.”