Seven Dials lands new Alan Partridge memoir

Seven Dials has landed a new memoir from “Alan Partridge”. 

Anna Valentine, Orion managing director, acquired world all languages rights to Big Beacon: A Lighthouse Rebuilt, A Broadcaster Reborn from Paul Stevens at Independent Talent. The follow-up to the major bestseller I, Partridge (HarperCollins), the book is written by Steve Coogan, Rob Gibbons and Neil Gibbons and will publish in hardback, e-book and audio on 12th October 2023. 

The publisher said: “In Big Beacon, Norwich’s favourite son and best broadcaster, Alan Partridge, triumphs against the odds. TWICE. Using an innovative ‘dual narrative’ structure you sometimes see in films, Big Beacon tells the story of how Partridge heroically rebuilt his TV career, rising like a phoenix from the desolate wasteland of local radio to climb to the summit of Mount Primetime and regain the nationwide prominence his talent merits. But then something quite unexpected and moving, because Big Beacon also tells the story of a selfless man, driven to restore an old lighthouse to its former glory, motivated by nothing more than respect for a quietly heroic old building that many take for granted, which some people think is a metaphor for Alan himself even though it’s not really for them to say.” 

Valentine said: “It’s been 12 years since the publication of I, Partridge, Alan’s first autobiography, which was a massive bestseller in print and digital, so I’m very excited that he is putting pen to paper once more. The world has changed a lot in that time, and I can’t wait for fans to hear Alan’s view on matters large and small, from gender politics and cancel culture to interior design and grooming, as well as recount the truth behind his run-ins with his professional enemies. I, Partridge and Nomad remain the pinnacle of comedy writing, and Big Beacon more than lives up to them.” 

Partridge added: “When people ask why I’ve written another book, my answer is always the same: ‘Do you ask the cockerel why it crows? Do you ask the salmon why it swims? Do you ask the bee why it bumbles? The horse why it gallops? No. So why are you asking me? Writing good books is what I do.’ And in Big Beacon, my first work in the move-to-a-new-area-and-renovate-an-old-building genre, I have quite simply done it again, producing a manuscript so accomplished it didn’t even need a second draft.”