Steve Coogan’s new Alan Partridge comedy shed a shocking 1.3million viewers on its second episode after being panned by viewers

The comedian’s new show, This Time With Alan Partridge, debuted on BBC1 with 3.44 million tuning in. But this week’s episode of the sitcom saw that figure slump to 2.05m.

It’s a stark contrast from 25 years ago when the bumbling broadcaster from Norwich shot to fame on mock chat show Knowing Me, Knowing You.

A TV insider said: “With so much hype in the run up to the new show, the BBC were convinced the sitcom was going to deliver them another success.

“So these poor viewing figures haven’t just been a disappointment, they’ve come as a major shock to comedy bosses at the Beeb.

“And it now leaves a question mark over whether the character of Alan Partridge, who was once TV gold, has well and truly lost his shine.”

Steve, 53, first created Alan Partridge in 1991 with writer Armando Iannucci, who also penned political satire The Thick of It.

However Iannucci hasn’t collaborated with him on the latest six-part series.

The character’s return in This Time saw him spoof the likes of The One Show. His co-host, Jennie Gresham, played by Susannah Fielding, is modelled on Good Morning Britain presenter, Susanna Reid.

One of Coogan’s biggest successes, I’m Alan Partridge, regularly attracted six million viewers an episode from 1997 to 2010.

But viewers failed to see the funny side of the new series, with just 1.78 million people tuning in at one point during Monday night’s show.

In contrast, quiz shows including Only Connect and University Challenge both attracted larger audiences on Monday night — as did ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire which pulled in 4.5 million viewers as it went head to head with Coogan’s show.

Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment. Alan Carter said: “Think people watched Alan Partridge last week out of nostalgia, did not bother this week as it was dated and just not funny.”

Piers Clarkson said: “This is not Alan Partridge, it’s like fake news, it’s fake comedy and all the followers are pretending to like it, and I keep watching, in hope with desperation.”

Rachel Ingram added: “Am I the only one who thought the new #AlanPartridge was rubbish? Speaking as a huge fan.”

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