What was the story there again? Did they definitely write it?

Are there any articles on this site where I can read all the sordid details?

Essentially, Lee & Herring wrote the first Partridge items for On The Hour. Iannucci had suggested a sports reporter character, so he thought it up in that respect. But Marber didn't contribute any Partridge material until (at least) OTH Series 2.

I would argue that Steve created the character.
Armando should indeed take some of the credit

We did indeed write most of the early jokes and thus slightly informed the voice of the character.
But Marber wrote Knowing Me, Knowing You with Steve and thus came up with much of the biographical details#

So I don't feel too miffed about not being mentioned in that context and couldn't really lay any claim to the creation of the character or his life

I would argue that Steve created the character.
Armando should indeed take some of the credit

We did indeed write most of the early jokes and thus slightly informed the voice of the character.
But Marber wrote Knowing Me, Knowing You with Steve and thus came up with much of the biographical details#

So I don't feel too miffed about not being mentioned in that context and couldn't really lay any claim to the creation of the character or his life

Nasty echo in here.

I agree with the comedian Richard Herring. It would be as much of an exaggeration to credit us with the creation of Alan Partridge as it would be to credit Patrick Marber with an ounce of humanity or dignity. However, we did create Brian O'etc and Trebe Lopez, both of which are traditionally ascribed to the liar and opportunist P Marber, who, at the time, was floating like a vulture over anything he thought might float his lying ass to fame and fortune, dropping like heavy stones all those to which he had afixed, limpet-like, his desperate carcass, as soon as the real cash cow - coogan, presented itself to his lying, play writing face. Coogan was then a vulnerable and bewildered mainstream entertainer, out of his depth in clever clogs land, to whom Marber cynically made himself invaluable. True. The 'details' of AP's life, which biographers cite as evidence of Marber's meticulous approcach and creative genius, are stock moves devolved from the Coogan voice and then extant Partridge material, which anyone would have arrived at given time, access and support.

>However, we did create Brian O'etc
and Trebe Lopez, both of which are
>traditionally ascribed to the liar and opportunist P Marber, who, at the time, was
>floating like a vulture over anything he thought might float his lying ass to fame
>and fortune, dropping like heavy stones all those to which he had afixed, limpet-like,
>his desperate carcass, as soon as the real cash cow - coogan, presented itself to his
>lying, play writing face.

Just who *is* Patrick Marber? And why is is he so dominant in conversations here, yet I ne'er hear his name mentioned in the real world?

That was the most beautifully written diatribe I have ever seen on this forum.


I don't know Marber either but shall make a point of not liking him as a result of the above..

I was always interested that, despite knowing absolutely nothing about him, I took an instant dislike to Marber when first seeing him perform in radio shows, a thing I rarely do with people.

When I finally read the full On The Hour story I felt strangely justified...

well i think he's excellent, especially in KMKY.

That was rather brilliant, Stewart. I'm laughing my head off! It brings back the thrill of when you had a picture of his face on a sort of punching post in "Fist of Fun."

For the unintiated, this is from the FAQ on http://www.leeandherring.com (see if you can guess which one of them wrote this answer!):

Q Why do you hate Patrick Marber?

A Rich feels sorry for Patrick, but Stew hates him. When Marber came back from failing to write a novel in Paris in 1991 he was desperate for people to write stuff for him, including us, and he really creeped up to us, but after he started to do well he just was nasty, and seemed delighted by any failures we had. He also claimed he'd written some stuff that we did. And when we used to go round to his house, which he owned(!), to write for him, he used to make us pay for any phone calls we made. That's it really. Part of the fun of picking on him in FOF1 and the book was just because he is quite an obscure figure. Also, he writes plays, and all plays are shit, and so is anyone who likes them, or writes them, including Richard Herring whatever excuses he may try and make up.

>Just who *is* Patrick Marber? And why is is he so dominant in conversations here, yet I ne'er hear his name mentioned in the real world?
>
He used to write a fairly reasonable column in ?The Observer? about 1994ish and that made me laugh. I still remember one about "Shaving for England". Dealer's Choice was pants though.

Priceless Mr Lee. You've truly made my day...

His newspaper columns was funny yes, but was essentially copied off Simon Munnery.

>His newspaper columns was funny yes, but was essentially copied off Simon Munnery.

Ah. Shame SM didn't get an in with the paper then.

I'm supposed to be going to see Howard Katz in September - is it likely to be as pants as Dealer's Choice was? I might slope off to the nearest pub and wait for everyone else if it is. Although I like Ron Cook. He might be worth sitting through it for.

I have seen Howard Katz and I believe the correct way to describe it is 'bogging shite' - I was given a ticket as I refuse to put a penny in the Marbermonsters pocket.

I hate him because I met him and he is a wanker.

Sorry to sit on the fence about my feelings

>I have seen Howard Katz and I believe the correct way to describe it is 'bogging shite' - I was given a ticket as I refuse to put a penny in the Marbermonsters pocket.

The pub wins then.

>I hate him because I met him and he is a wanker.
>
>Sorry to sit on the fence about my feelings

No, go on, tell us what you think of him...

>His newspaper columns was funny yes, but was essentially copied off Simon Munnery.

Speaking of columns in newspapers, anybody see page 4, column 1 in todays Guardian Online, where The Writer and Comedian Stewart Lee takes part in the regular 'Working IT Out' questionnaire? What I want to know is, what's on his tongue in the photograph? It looks too small to be an ad for The Perfect Fool.

ps. Brass Eye etc, etc, etc. Hey, it's my first post here, so I might as well round it out properly with a compulsory reference.