Easily Distracted by Steve Coogan - review

If Ant and Dec are this TV generation’s Laurel and Hardy — harmless but dull — then Steve Coogan is that same generation’s Peter Sellers. Easily Distracted (the reader will recognise the phrase from school reports of yesteryear) is the story of his upbringing in the Manchester suburb of Middleton to his life now as a successful, solid comedian.

Coogan’s childhood vignettes are both touching and hilarious. His father’s insistence that their telephone should always be answered “Middleton, 1234. Who’s speaking please?” leaves young TV fan Coogan wondering how ridiculous John Thaw would sound in The Sweeney if he picked up the phone and offered: “Hello, Flying Squad, 1212. My name is John Reagan, how may I be of assistance?”

From Manchester, Coogan attempts — unsuccessfully — to join the Central School of Speech and Drama where “everyone seemed to be called Sebastian or Julian ... I felt like Frank Spencer drowning in a sea of Mr Darcys”. Amusingly his father even frames the gentle letdown letter from Rada as it advises Coogan to the effect that “you’re quite good but not good enough”.

To his credit, Coogan didn’t let chippiness consume him, as talented people who go to their local comp often do, and quickly secured a job on Spitting Image. He had his foot in the door and began making money.

The inspiration behind the characters that went on to make him a household name is diverse. As well as being a mash-up of awful sports presenters, Alan Partridge is drawn from Coogan’s own inner-embarrassment — he readily admits to giving the character “my neuroses” and points out, gratefully, that “Alan’s distinct lack of cool made me cool”.