Foster's to sponsor new Alan Partridge web chat show

Foster's is to sponsor a new one-off web TV series featuring Alan Partridge, former presenter of 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' whose broadcasting career was temporarily blighted after falling out with Tony Hayers, a senior executive at the BBC, earlier this decade.

The website www.fostersfunny.co.uk​ will exclusively host 12 eleven-minute standalone episodes over the next few months, starting on November 5. Confirmation of the tie-up with Partridge ended months of speculation that the media personality would make his TV internet debut.

Partridge, whose 'Norfolk Nights' radio show won him fans all over the county - with the notable exception of the local farming community - said: "I am delighted to announce that, after years as a regional broadcaster on North Norfolk Digital, my groundbreaking radio segment, 'Mid Morning Matters' will now be accessible to a potential audience of billions via the World Wide Web (www).

"That it has taken Foster's to help realise my dream of joining the information superhighway is a damning indictment of the established broadcasters whose shabby treatment of me on September 10 2001 was frankly shabby.

"I made dozens of calls the next day, all of which were ignored. My appreciation must go to Armando Iannucci and Baby Cow for ignoring the lies, God bless them. In the meantime I look forward to 'hanging out 'n' chillin'' with the MySpace generation."

Gayle Harrison, marketing manager - Foster's, at Heineken UK said: "We are delighted to be working with one of the UK's all-time favourite comedy shows as part of Foster's comedy sponsorship programme and we look forward to increasing the brand's dialogue and engagement with lager drinkers through this exclusive new partnership."

Alan Partridge is one of comedian Steve Coogan's most successful comic personas.