Cyril Alan Partridge is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Dicken Ashworth.

[4] Alan is characterised as a friendly character and describing his him, Ashworth told West that "he's the sort of bloke who'll get an idea and say, O.K.

[5] In the book, Brookside: The Official Companion, show creator Phil Redmond profiled Alan as a "scatter-brained freelance computer programmer".

Redmond also described Alan as a "magnetic character who could always be relied upon to help pass a dull teenage hour."

[6] Geoff Tibballs, author of Phil Redmond's Brookside - Life in the Close described Alan as "burly" and a "born enthusiast".

[11] Writers soon created relationship dramas with Samantha refusing to marry Alan but later agreeing to move in with him.

[10] Despite the relationship, Ashworth believed it did not limit the potential for writers to expand Alan's character, telling West that "although he has a live-in girlfriend called Sam - he's not married and that means he can go in any direction.

"[12] Early stories for the character portrayed Alan having to control situations where Damon and Jonah (Tom Branch) take a romantic interest in Samantha.

[6] Producers arranged location filming in Isle of Man for a holiday storyline featuring Alan, Samantha and fellow characters Petra Taylor (Alexandra Pigg) and Barry Grant (Paul Usher).

[14] One of the aims were to film during the practise run of the annual motorcycle racing event, the Isle of Man TT.

First Alan's best man lets him down and he is forced to ask Paul Collins (Jim Wiggins) and Samantha is late for service.

[6] In another storyline writers paired Alan with a new girlfriend Liz (Stacey Charlesworth) after Sam's departure for the US.

[19] He then helps Gordon Collins (Nigel Crowley) sell a computer game and discovers that Liz's actions have led to him being accused of plagiarism.

[19] Alan reacts badly, gets drunk and angrily goes around Brookside Close shouting abuse at his neighbours.

May told Tony Pratt from the Daily Mirror that viewers approached her in public questioning Samantha's behaviour, adding that they believed her character was "quite awful".

[22] On 8 July, Felicity Hawkins from The Sunday People released advance story spoilers and a picture of Alan and Samantha getting married.

They noted that once the name is heard, you are left wondering "is this a computer programmer from Liverpool, or bonkers DJ for Radio Norwich?

[21] Jane Moore from Sandwell Evening Mail alluded that Ashworth's portrayal of Alan was subpar because his performances in later roles was "much better".

[1] Mike Critchley from Birmingham Metro News branded Alan a "gruff voiced rugby player".