Quite accountably, in the less than loved This Time With Alan Partridge, they saved the very worst for last. I'd retained hopes for this, and some of the format worked winningly, but as soon as his co-host, the wonderful Susannah Fielding, walked off set at the very start, it fell apart: Alan was just allowed to get nasty, which was never, ever, the point. I'd love to see Alan return. Just not with those writers.

After a slow start, this latest iteration of Coogan's cringe-worthy character has hit its stride in recent weeks, with the introduction of Alan's Irish doppelganger and a perfectly pitched #MeToo episode. Now comes a victory lap of a final episode where, in true Partridge tradition, everything goes even more wrong than usual, and Alan and Sidekick Simon are forced to present the show themselves. Plus, Alan re-enacts his traumatic recent encounter with the boys in blue.

This Time with Alan Partridge, final episode, review

This first series has been brilliant, and always witty and inventive.

Review This Time with Alan Partridge

As his loose lips land him in trouble with his co-host and the BBC's director general, could This Time be the last time for Partridge?

This Time was the very best of Alan Partridge

From slapstick to quiet horror, Alan's return to the BBC secured his status as the vital, despicable saviour of us all.

This Time with Alan Partridge finale review

Back to his worst.