Simon Greenall, the British actor who plays Michael in the comedy series, visited Bridgestones of Thorpe St Andrew on Saturday, July 25, with his wife.
Mr Greenall, who appears in I’m Alan Partridge and later Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa as a friendly Geordie motel worker and friend, is also a producer, writer and voice actor.
Mr Greenall has been described as “kind” and “such a nice guy” by the manager at the tea room, who is also an Alan Partridge fan (Image: Bridgestones of Thorpe St Andrew)
It is understood Mr Greenall popped in to the cafe on Saturday morning before heading off to a private event.
Mark Coleman, manager at Bridgestones of Thorpe St Andrew who is a “reigning East Anglian Alan Partridge quiz champion”, said: “I asked if it was okay to speak with him and we chatted about the show. He was such a nice guy.
“Alan Partridge TV show, podcasts, film and books are my all-time favourite. He was so kind, he had photos, recorded a video and had pictures for the cafe’s socials and signed some autographs for us.
“His character is famous for offering Alan Partridge a mug of baked beans with a sausage in so he posed with that for us.
Bridgestones by the river at Thorpe St Andrew (Image: Denise Bradley)
“With Alan Partridge being a Norfolk hero, having a main cast actor appear here was awesome.”
The cafe has also scooped up the Muddy Stiletto Award for best cafe in Norfolk
Mr Coleman added: “Since winning the award, anyone and everyone could pop in! We’ve got to get Ryan Reynolds in now.”
‘I’m a man of the people’
Alan Partridge, the sports casual-clad radio presenter played by Steve Coogan, has become Norfolk’s most famous fictional broadcaster after I’m Alan Partridge aired in November, 1997.
Next year, We’re Just Fans, Alan: The Alan Partridge Festival will return to Norfolk at a special event held at the Mercure Norwich Hotel.
The site will double up as the fictional broadcaster’s Linton Travel Tavern home from home.