Coogan wants to 'bury' Partridge

Steve Coogan says he wants to ‘bury’ Alan Partridge in his bid for Hollywood fame.

The comic hopes that his role as Phileas Fogg in the forthcoming movie version of Around The World In 80 Days, right,will allow him to finally move away from the character that made him famous.

He told Hot Dog magazine: “The great thing about this is that if it’s the success everyone hopes it will be, it will enable me to bury that Pringle sweater and Alan Partridge.

Coogan, who also runs successful independent TV production company Baby Cow,  has previously vowed to retire Partridge, only to revive him for charity gigs or promises of TV specials.

Even now he says: “People might go, ‘is that the end?’ and I don’t know, I might do the odd special.”

“But you shouldn’t stand still. I want to keep moving around and try not to be pigeonholed.

“The fact that in America I’m unknown is an advantage. I can reinvent myself.”

The movie, which also stars Jackie Chan, opens in America next week and in Britain next month.

Published: 11 Jun 2004