Steve Coogan

Biography

Steve Coogan (born 14.10.1965) Steve Coogan is an English comedian and actor best known for his character Alan Partridge.

Childhood: Steve Coogan was born in Middleton, Greater Manchester. His parents are Kathleen and Anthony Coogan, an engineer. He was brought up in an Irish Roman Catholic family. He attended Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School and later joined Manchester theatre company New Music. He was then accepted into the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre.

Acting career: Steve Coogan was originally an impressionist on 'Spitting Image'. His character Alan Partridge started out on Radio 4's 'On The Hour' in collaboration with Chris Morris and Armando Iannucci. In 1997, he starred in the sitcom 'I'm Alan Partridge' which returned in 2002. Paul Calf was another of his characters, originally called Duncan Disorderly. In 1993, he appeared on the Channel 4 variety show 'Saturday Zoo'. He is an unemployed Mancunian who hates students, has a mullet and likes Wagon Wheels.

His other characters include Tommy Saxondale, Duncan Thicket and Portuguese Eurovision Song Contest winner Tony Ferrino. Among his TV roles are 'Coogan's Run', 'Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible', 'Monkey Trousers' and 'Saxondale'. In 2003, he appeared in 'The Private Life of Samuel Pepys' He had a small cameo role in the 2006 'Little Britain' Christmas special which stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams. In 2010, he teamed with Rob Brydon and Michael Winterbottom who he worked with in 2006's 'A Cock and Bull Story' for BBC2 sitcom 'The Trip'. The show earned him a BAFTA.

He voiced characters in animation series 'I Am Not an Animal' and was the voice of Satan in 'Neighbors from Hell'. He has appeared in various films including Michael Winterbottom's '24 Hour Party People', Terry Jones' 'The Wind in the Willows', Disney's 'Around the World in 80 Days' alongside Jackie Chan, 'Marie Antoinette' with Kirsten Dunst and 'Night at the Museum' opposite Ben Stiller. He had an uncredited cameo in 'Hot Fuzz' alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. In 2010, he played Hades in 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief'.

In 2013, he appeared as the lead character in a movie about the life of porn entrepreneur Paul Raymond called 'The Look of Love'. In 2008, he returned to stand-up comedy in a tour named 'Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and other less successful characters' though it was not particularly well-received. He founded Baby Cow Productions in 1999 with Henry Normal. They are executive producers of 'The Mighty Boosh', 'Nighty Night', 'Gavin and Stacey' and Human Remains.

Personal life: Steve Coogan married Caroline Hickman in 2002 though they divorced 3 years later. He currently lives in Brighton near his daughter Clare, whom he fathered with solicitor Anna Cole. He is a strong supporter of the Labour Party. He has always struggled with the tabloid press which he has found extremely intrusive and aggressive throughout his career. He was one of the celebrities targeted in the News of the World phone hacking scandal and subsequently provided a witness statement to the Leveson Inquiry.

Biography by Contactmusic.com

Alan Partridge Is Returning To The BBC, Confirms Steve Coogan

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 24 August 2017

Steve Coogan

Coogan is reviving his most popular comic creation for the BBC in spring 2018.

Steve Coogan’s eternally popular comedy creation Alan Partridge is to return to the BBC for a new series next year, the comedian confirmed this week.

The new series will apparently see the spectacularly puffed-up and incompetent Partridge re-hired by the BBC to be “the voice of hard Brexit”, according to Coogan on Wednesday (August 23rd) when he spoke at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

“Alan will be back on the BBC early next year, there will be a lot of Alan on TV next year”, he said. “I’m trying to do a leak to the press about it. He’ll just be back on a show, it might be a bit like this. I’m here to do research.”

Continue reading: Alan Partridge Is Returning To The BBC, Confirms Steve Coogan

Despicable Me 3 Review

Very Good

Actually the fourth film in the series (don't forget the prequel Minions), this animated super-villain comedy continues the wildly hyperactive antics of Gru and his yellow sidekicks, blending hilarious references with crazed action to keep the audience laughing. It's so jam-packed with gags that the movie leaves the audience feeling a little bewildered along the way, since we never get a chance to lock into either the story or characters before we're off for another manic set-piece. But it's a lot of fun.

We catch up with Gru (Steve Carell) and his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) as they've just been outfoxed by arch-nemesis Bratt (Trey Parker), a former 1980s child TV star gone very, very bad. Sacked by the Anti-Villain League, Gru and Lucy are unsure how they're going to support their three adopted daughters (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier and Nev Scharrel). Then they discover that Gru has a twin brother he never knew about. So they head to a remote island nation, where they meet Dru (also Carell), who lives in splendour on his epic pig farm. But Dru dreams of being a villain like their late father, so he convinces Gru to offer him some training. And, pretending that it's a heist, Gru takes Dru along on a mission to capture Bratt.

Every scene is a riot of jokes, mainly poking fun at 1980s movies, music, TV shows and fashion. Bratt is hilariously annoying, with his awful moustache and mullet, and a lair that recreates the set from Olivia Newton John's Physical video. But these witty touches fly at the screen so quickly that they only just register before there are another five gags upon us. The frantic pacing is enjoyable even if it's rather exhausting, mainly because the characters are so endearing. Carell and Wiig once again bring their impeccable timing to their roles, mixing comedy with some surprisingly sweet emotion in their parallel storylines: Gru as he learns to be a brother and Lucy as she yearns to be seen as a mom to the girls, two of whom have little subplots of their own.

Continue reading: Despicable Me 3 Review

Despicable Me 3 Trailer

Gru, the Minions and his wonderful girls will return to the cinema this June when the third instalment of the movie is released. Though his personal life is at a peak, Gru's professional life is going through some issues. When he lets the devious troublemaker Balthazar Bratt get away with the theft of a precious jewel, Gru comes under fire from his bosses and ends up getting fired. Now at a low point, Gru turn to his wife, Lucy, and the girls for support but they're unable to solve Gru's problems.

When the former bady finds out that he has a twin brother, the pair are reunited and it appears his brother Dru has everything Gru hasn't. He has wealth, luscious blonde locks, pigs, a huge island home and a devious villain layer underneath his mansion which Dru uses to lure Gru back into a life of crime - unbeknownst to Lucy and the girls.

As Gru starts to remember his bad boy youth, the temptation to become the best supervillain once again becomes too much for Gru to refuse. Will Gru be able to once again prove to his brother that he's capable of topping the ranks in the supervillain world and outwitting his latest nemesis, former child star Balthazar Bratt - and if he does, will he risk losing his real family who've stuck by him in the past?

Continue: Despicable Me 3 Trailer

Julian Barratt Turns Detective In His New Dark Comedy 'Mindhorn'

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 22 March 2017

Julian Barratt Simon Farnaby Steve Coogan

'Mindhorn' sees Julian Barratt as a former TV star who pretends to be a detective to nab a killer.

There's something irresistably engaging about cops and comedy, and Julian Barratt has taken that aesthetic to the Isle of Man with his new film 'Mindhorn'. Coming this Spring, it sees a struggling ex-TV star who goes undercover as his own alter ego to help police catch a murderer.

Julian Barratt stars in 'Mindhorn'

'Mindhorn' is the first film screenplay from 'The Mighty Boosh' star Julian Barratt, written in collaboration with his co-star Simon Farnaby. The film follows a former 80s star named Richard Thorncroft (Barratt), whose best-known role is as a TV cop named Detective Mindhorn who wears robotic eye patch that helps him uncover lies.

Continue reading: Julian Barratt Turns Detective In His New Dark Comedy 'Mindhorn'

Despicable Me 3 Trailer

It's been some time since Gru embarked on a villainous plot to take over the world; now that his adopted daughters Margo, Edith and Agnes are growing up and he's married to Anti-Villain League agent Lucy Wilde, he's more about being a family man than being a baddie. Of course, that also means that not a lot of money is coming in and so he needs to find financial help soon. Agnes does her best to raise funds with a garage sale and waves goodbye to her beloved unicorn, but ultimately it's the arrival of Gru's wealthier and blonder long-lost brother Dru who provides a light at the end of the tunnel. With his money, they manage to formulate a plan together to take down a criminal diamond thief named Balthazar Bratt - who happens to not be hard to find given that he's a flamboyant former 80s movie star. Meanwhile, the Minions are growing angry that their master no longer wants to pursue evil deeds.

Continue: Despicable Me 3 Trailer

Steve Coogan leaves the BBC Breakfast Studios at Media City UK after appearing on the show - Manchester, United Kingdom - Monday 5th December 2016

Steve Coogan seen entering the Channel 4 Stand Up To Cancer Gala Fundraiser held at the Westminster Methodist Central Hall, London, United Kingdom - Friday 21st October 2016

Steve Coogan Opens Up About Drug Addiction In Autobiography 'Easily Distracted'

By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 04 October 2015

Steve Coogan

The comedian said he thought he was going to die one night in 1992 after taking cocaine.

Comedian Steve Coogan has opened up about his dark past with drugs in new autobiography Easily Distracted. In an extract from the book published by The Guardian, Coogan reveals how he became hooked on cocaine in the 90s, before finally facing up to his addiction.

Steve Coogan has detailed his drug problems in autobiography, Easily Distracted.

Coogan reveals that his drug taking started in 1992, when people would supply him with illegal substances, meaning he never had to buy them himself. But later that year he suffered a horrific experience when a panic attack left him thinking his life was over.

Continue reading: Steve Coogan Opens Up About Drug Addiction In Autobiography 'Easily Distracted'

Chris Eubank Takes On Alan Partridge's 'Youth Hostelling' Idea In Spoof Trailer

By Stephanie Chase in Movies / TV / Theatre on 20 August 2015

Chris Eubank Steve Coogan

‘Youth Hostelling With Chirs Eubank’ was one of Alan Partridge’s many ideas for a great TV show. Could ‘Monkey Tennis’ be next?

Nearly two decades after Alan Partridge first pitched the idea for a show titled ‘Youth Hostelling With Chirs Eubank’, the former boxing champ has got in on the joke and released a spoof trailer for the fantasy TV series. Eubank has teamed up with Hostelworld to make Partridge’s idea come to life, in a one minute trailer which can only be described as ‘splendid’.

Former boxer Chris Eubank has released a spoof trailer for ‘Youth Hostelling With Chirs Eubank’.

In the trailer Eubank visits a youth hostel and tests the mattresses, uses the free wi-fi and even has a song and dance session will fellow guests. During his visit the former middle-weight champ describes his experience as ‘splendid', 'extraordinary' and 'unmithable', while adding that ‘Eubank is a revalation’.

Continue reading: Chris Eubank Takes On Alan Partridge's 'Youth Hostelling' Idea In Spoof Trailer

Steve Coogan's 'Happyish' Cancelled By Showtime

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 27 July 2015

Steve Coogan Philip Seymour Hoffman

The show, in which Coogan plays a depressed middle-aged man searching for happiness, has been pulled.

Steve Coogan’s latest prime-time comedy series ‘Happyish’ has been cancelled by its American TV network. The series, which Coogan was called in to front after the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman in 2014, has been axed after just one season by Showtime.

According to Deadline, the cable network confirmed that the satirical drama-comedy about a depressed middle-aged man and his family would not be getting a second run, after receiving disappointing ratings throughout its first series from April to June this year. Just 261,000 watched the series finale, even though that was up from the initial 237,000 that watched the first episode.

Steve Coogan's ambition to break big Stateside has taken a blow, with 'Happyish' being cancelled

Continue reading: Steve Coogan's 'Happyish' Cancelled By Showtime

‘Minions’ Conquers Box Office, Raking In $115.2 Million On Opening Weekend

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 12 July 2015

Sandra Bullock Steve Coogan Jon Hamm Allison Janney

Minions conquered the U.S. and Canadian Box Office this weekend (10th-12th July), raking in an incredible $115.2 million. The movie, which cost $74 million to make, has already made a substantial profit of just under $40 million.

Minions, the spin-off from the hugely popular Despicable Me films, has surpassed the earnings from the opening weekend of Despicable Me ($56.4 million) but hasn’t quite managed to beat the $142.1 million its sequel made when it was released in 2013. Both films have gone on to make huge profits. Despicable Me earned $543-million worldwide and the second film earned $970.7.

Watch The Movie Trailer For Minions On Contactmusic:

It’s hardly surprising the opening weekend of Minions has been so success. Universal Pictures has used some fairly hard sell tactics to ensure it’s the film everyone’s talking about. With adverts everywhere online and even a seemingly swearing Minions Happy Meal toy available in McDonald’s, it’s been difficult to avoid seeing these little yellow creatures.

Continue reading: ‘Minions’ Conquers Box Office, Raking In $115.2 Million On Opening Weekend

McDonald’s: Minions Happy Meal Toys Are Not Swearing At Children

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 11 July 2015

Jon Hamm Michael Keaton Pierre Coffin Steve Coogan Sandra Bullock Allison Janney

McDonald’s have no intention of recalling their Minions Happy Meal toys despite claims the toys sound as if they are using obscene language.

McDonald’s is adamant those Minions Happy Meal toys aren’t really swearing at children. Controversy arose this week when parents shared videos of their children’s Happy Meal toys seemingly saying ‘what the f**k. Some of the videos, uploaded on YouTube, have been watched millions of times. However, McDonald’s has no intention of recalling the toys despite widespread distaste and a number of complaints.

Minions The Minions movie is out in cinemas now.

Continue reading: McDonald’s: Minions Happy Meal Toys Are Not Swearing At Children

Steve Coogan - the South Bank Sky Arts Awards at the Savoy Hotel London 7th June 2015 at Savoy Hotel, South Bank - LONDON, United Kingdom - Monday 8th June 2015