‘Far from being this big, booming voice, the Daily Mail is just a little man behind a curtain...’
In a time when working-class and lower middle-class voices have never been more absent in the arts, cherishing those that did originate from humble beginnings becomes more important than ever. Steve Coogan grew up in Middleton, Greater Manchester and has become one of UK comedy’s most important and recognised talents…
Easily Distracted, published in 2016, sees Coogan reckon with his lower middle-class upbringing through rejection from drama school, appearing as a voice actor on Spitting Image, before ultimately finding fame through characters such as Paul Calf, Duncan Thickett and, most famously, Alan Partridge.
Upon publication, Coogan was still filming The Trip with Rob Brydon and director Michael Winterbottom, and his description of this is both frank and thoughtful. He admits to professional jealousy of Brydon and reflects on the competitive nature of their friendship. It’s a fascinating insight into a man who has often been (wilfully) misunderstood by the British press. Coogan also dives deep into his childhood, and his descriptions of early life are vivid and full of warmth, particularly for his parents, who were supportive, but also baffled by both Coogan’s early comedy style and his subsequent huge success.
Speaking of the British press, Coogan devotes several chapters to his involvement with the Leveson Inquiry, and his searing take down of those involved is delivered passionately whilst crucially never descending into bitterness (there isn’t much “Needless to say I had the last laugh” stuff here – although there is some). On Partridge, Coogan tentatively explains how he fell out of love with the character, but also how he can’t ever leave Alan fully behind. Since the book’s publication, it appears that his collaboration with the Gibbons brothers has reignited Coogan’s love for the character. Indeed, Coogan’s most recent forays into the world of Alan Gordon Partridge have been some of his best.
Easily Distracted is at its most effective when Coogan breaks down the craft of comedy, or when he reflects on his life and past behaviour. There is plenty of both throughout – an honest and compelling book.