Do we like them?

Do we like Alan Partridge?

A character from Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge / I'm Alan Partridge (1992–present)

Our score: 4 out of 10. He's petty, vain and tactless, but he's rarely malicious and his desperate need to be liked makes him oddly lovable. We'd back him, though we wouldn't lend him money.

Alan Partridge began as a spoof sports presenter, then got his own chat show, Knowing Me, Knowing You. He is a Norwich-based broadcaster who sees himself as a major celebrity. He is really an insecure man whose tact, taste and self-awareness are in short supply.

Across the radio, TV and later film and podcast incarnations, Alan scrapes along on the margins of media. He clings to his small amount of status, bickers with rivals and repeatedly embarrasses himself. Much of the comedy comes from his pettiness and from how badly he misreads other people.

We scored him a 4. He is selfish, snobbish and clumsy with other people's feelings. But he is more pathetic than wicked, and he keeps getting back up after each humiliation, which is hard not to admire. He is great company on screen and a poor choice of friend.