The BBC has told us what we can expect from Alan Partridge: Why, When, Where, How and Whom? which is set to air over Christmas.

They say: “It has been a quarter of a century since a little known sports reporter was given his own radio chat show by the BBC. Two radio series, five TV series, four specials, two books and one movie later, Alan Partridge has an unrivalled place in the comedy pantheon. To celebrate Alan’s return to his rightful home at the BBC in 2018, a retrospective documentary will look back at his journey from broadcaster caricature to the award-winning study of complexity and pathos that he has become.”

In the documentary, we will hear from the man behind the man himself, Steve Coogan, as well as the acclaimed team of writers and performers that were there from the start, including Armando Iannucci, Rebecca Front, David Schneider and Doon Mackichan. Through interviews and never before seen archive footage including improv sessions, rehearsals and unseen outtakes, a new light will be shone on the genesis of the character.

The programme will feature discussions with some of the best loved characters in Alan’s world; the likes of Felicity Montagu (Lynn), Simon Greenall (Michael), Sally Phillips (Sophie the receptionist), Phil Cornwell (Dave Clifton) and Tim Key (Sidekick Simon). We’ll also hear from writers and directors, Neil and Rob Gibbons, who inherited the Partridge mantle and, alongside Coogan, have taken the character to new heights in recent years.

Through interviews, archive material and iconic clips from the shows themselves, the documentary will explore Alan’s unprecedented cultural influence, his impact on the comedy landscape, and how the most entertainingly contemptible man in fictional light entertainment has become permanently embedded in the national vernacular.