Steve Coogan swerves lengthy driving ban thanks to Alan Partridge
The comedian also dropped some new details about Partridge’s new “travelogue” series
Eat my goal! Actor Steve Coogan has just escaped a lengthy driving ban thanks to his comedy character Alan Partridge.
Appearing at a magistrates court in Crawley after he was clocked driving his Porsche at 36mph in a 30mph zone close to his East Sussex home, Coogan faced a six-month ban. However, he successfully argued that an upcoming series of Alan Partridge couldn’t be filmed on public transport – and let slip a little info about the new show, set to start filming in October.
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Facing an automatic six-month driving ban after receiving another three penalty points on his license in addition to his current nine, Coogan told the court (Via The Guardian): “I’m producing a travelogue follow-on TV series where I’m basically driving around Britain. The whole nature of the series is that it is a travelogue and it’s an artistic thing that he drives and that defines his character.”
He added: “You couldn’t put him on a train because that not who he is. It’s part of his character that he drives.”
Coogan also argued that the driving shots couldn’t be faked in front of a green screen. “You have cameras mounted on the bonnet then you have other shots where you have a camera mounted on a separate car filming the person in the car driving,” he said.
After considering how the cancellation of the TV series would lead to 15-20 people losing their jobs at short notice, the magistrates only disqualified him from driving for two months. Coogan was still handed three penalty points and was fined £750, with £85 court costs and a £75 victim surcharge.
His upcoming motor travelogue series will be the first Partridge series since the six-part This Time with Alan Partridge aired in February.
