Biography

He based the character of Alan Partridge on a radio presenter who interviewed him just as he was becoming famous. Coogan began mimicking the interviewer during the interview and from this came the inspiration for Coogan's most famous creation.

An accomplished mimic, his legion of uncanny impressions include Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Stephen Hawking, Michael Caine, Ian McKellen, Liam Neeson, Ray Winstone, Alan Rickman, Harry Enfield, John Major, Al Pacino, Martin Sheen and more.

His father was born in Manchester, of Irish descent. His mother is from Mayo, Ireland.

He is the older brother of Brendan Coogan (MUTV presenter) and younger brother of Martin Coogan (ex-lead singer of The Mock Turtles).

He has a daughter, Clare, from his relationship with solicitor Anna Cole.

Actors say they do their own stunts for the integrity of the film but I did them because they looked like a lot of fun.

I always find it easier to portray myself as being unlikeable and idiotic; to actually play a character that is likeable and engages the audience is far more difficult. It's a more subtle kind of challenge.

As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4.

I don't want to be someone who's trying to spin this public image of me. I have had some negative tabloid press, I'm sure you're aware [I am], but I don't like to portray myself as somehow a nice, well-rounded person.

In comic acting, to improvise effectively is quite difficult. A lot of actors can improvise up to a certain level - an entry level, which is when you see the actors having more fun than the audience.