How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge)

Steve Coogan (Actor) .. Alan Partridge

Born: October 14, 1965 in Middleton, Lancashire

Best Known For: Playing hopeless presenter Alan Partridge.

Early-life: Stephen John Coogan was born on October 14, 1965, in Middleton, Lancashire. His parents are Irish and he is the fourth of seven children. It was clear from an early age he was a natural mimic. After leaving the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre he became an impressionist, and featured on Spitting Image and the Royal Variety Show. He tired of being, in his words, 'a cut-rate Rory Bremner' and decided to create characters of his own. The decision paid off, and he won the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1992.

Career: After becoming a cult favourite with Radio 4's On the Hour, Coogan made his TV breakthrough in 1993 with roles on Saturday Zoo and The Day Today. The former introduced his foul-mouthed Mancunian layabout Paul Calf, and the latter brought his most famous radio creation, Alan Partridge, to the small screen. He appeared in horror spoof Dr Terrible's House of Horrible and also made a handful of hit-and-miss films, including Terry Jones's version of Wind in the Willows, The Parole Officer and 24 Hour Party People. He's enjoyed success in America with such films as Around the World in 80 Days, A Night at the Museum and Tropic Thunder. In 2010 he appeared with Rob Brydon in contemplative BBC sitcom The Trip, and more recently in its sequel, The Trip to Italy. He also co-wrote and starred in Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and Philomena.

Quote: 'When my life has been the subject of tabloid intrusion, what I have never done is get engaged in justifying myself. Celebrities who go round apologising are pitiful, and don't do themselves any favours.'

Trivia: Coogan and his writing partner, Henry Normal, own Baby Cow Productions, which has backed such hits as Human Remains, Moone Boy, Gavin & Stacey, Nighty Night and The Mighty Boosh.

Katherine Kelly (Actor) .. Katrina

Born: November 19, 1979 in Barnsley, England

Best Known For: Playing lovable ex-con Becky in Coronation Street.

Early-life: Katherine was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on November 19, 1979. She attended Wakefield Girls High School. She has strong links with The Lamproom Theatre in Barnsley, established in 1998 by her father John. She trained at Rada with fellow students Meredith MacNeill and Laurence Fox, graduating in 2001.

Career: Keen for a stage career, Kelly worked at Chichester Festival Theatre in The Accrington Pals and at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in Othello. She was a leading lady at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2004-2005, performing in both Stratford-Upon-Avon and the West End. She has worked in TV, film, radio and voice-over, but she is best known for playing Becky McDonald in Coronation Street between 2006 and 2012. Since leaving the soap, she has starred in the TV movie The Best Possible Taste, Mr Selfridge and The Field of Blood.

Quote: 'I've been broody for the last 10 years. One day I hope to have kids. And if I couldn't, I'd adopt. It's what life is all about. I adore kids, but with us women there's never a right time.'

Trivia: In 2012, Kelly won a National Television Award and a British Soap Award.

Tuwaine Barrett (Actor) .. Travis

Gabrielle Oke (Actor) .. Gina

Kevin Bishop (Actor) .. Paul

Felicity Montagu (Actor) .. Lynn

Nathan Amzi (Actor) .. Si

Yasmin Al-Khudhairi (Actor) .. Lara

Caitlin Walsh (Actor) .. Zuzan

Neil Gibbons (Writer)

Rob Gibbons (Writer)

Joe Fraser (Producer)

Rupert Majendie (Executive producer)

Sarah Monteith (Executive producer)

Navi Lamba (Executive producer)

Ben Caudell (Executive producer)

11:00 pm - 11:30 pm, Thursday, July 2 on BBC One London (1)

About this Broadcast

Season 1, Episode 3

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