TELLYBOX: Laughs from Alan Partridge revival and the tragic story of Dale Barclay By David Pollock May 1 2021, 10.15am This year is the 30th anniversary of Alan Partridge’s first appearance on the BBC Radio 4 comedy On the Hour, making the character as much a part of the UK’s broadcasting furniture as those he was originally created to mock. These were guileless sports reporters, self-obsessed magazine show hosts and Richard Madeley, mainly. Alan has enjoyed success with 1994’s excruciating spoof chat show Knowing Me, Knowing You, and cult fly-on-the-wall infamy with I’m Alan Partridge (1997 and 2002), one of the best and smartest comedies of its time.