www.fish4.co.uk/career-advice/alan-partidge-answers-interview-questions/
Tell us about your experience in broadcasting?
‘I say broadcasting doesn’t define who I am, nor does it not define who I am. Nor does it define who I’m not’
Why do you want this job?
‘My life’s a mess, I live in a Travel Tavern, and my children don’t speak to me’
How would you handle conflict in the workplace?
‘I know lying is wrong, but if the elephant man came in now in a blouse with some make up on, and said “how do I look?” Would you say, bearing in mind he’s depressed and has respiratory problems, would you say “go and take that blusher off you mis-shapened elephant tranny”? No. You’d say “You look nice… John”‘
Give an example of your lateral thinking
‘Big Yellow Taxi there by Joni Mitchell, a song in which she complains that they “paved paradise to put up a parking lot” – a measure which actually would have alleviated traffic congestion on the outskirts of paradise. Something which Joni singularly fails to point out, perhaps because it doesn’t quite fit in with her blinkered view of the world. Nevertheless, nice song.’
How would you describe your work-ethic?
‘I’ve been working like a Japanese prisoner of war. But a happy one.’
What are some projects you’ve worked on?
‘I, Alan Partridge, talk to M.E. sufferers about their condition. We intersperse with their favourite pop songs, make it lighthearted, give them a platform. You’ve got to keep the energy up…’
Give us an example of a time you’ve thought outside of the box?
‘More distance between the egg and the beans in an English Breakfast. I may want to mix them but I want that to be my decision; use a sausage as a breakwater.’
What is your greatest weakness?
‘Toblerones. I would wake up in the middle of the night and eat an entire Toblerone. And I don’t mean a small one. I mean a medium-sized one. In fact, in the best chapter in my book I talk about when I gorged on Toblerone and drove to Dundee in my bare feet.’
What is your greatest achievement to date?
‘My girlfriend is 14 years younger than me. Back of the net!’
What has been your greatest struggle at work?
‘Just people. I just hate the general public’
What do you like to do outside of work?
‘I know a crackin’ owl sanctuary’