Alan Partridge movie is confirmed by comedy writer Armando Iannucci

It has been confirmed that Norfolk's most famous fictional radio star, Alan Partridge, will be appearing in a long-awaited movie.

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci has confirmed Steve Coogan's wacky Radio Norwich creation is finally to have his own film, likely to be released in 2013.

Mr Iannucci said: 'It's just about all come together now, so that'll be shot later in the year. At the moment it's 'The Alan Partridge Movie' but that's just a working title.

'(The script) is written (but) we're always rewriting, rewriting and rewriting.'

Iannucci had already previously confirmed that if the film got the go-ahead then it would be shot in Norfolk when rumours first surfaced two years ago, saying: 'We're not going mad and doing an Alan-goes-to-Hollywood thing. It's very much Alan in Norwich. Putting Norwich on the map. Well, somebody's map.'

Coogan was in Norwich last October, fully in-character as Partridge, to sign copies of his new book at the Waterstone's book shop on Castle Street.

During that book signing, and a surprise visit to the city last December when cameras followed Partridge to City Hall and Norwich Market, speculation was rife about what the filming was for.

But now it is confirmed that Iannucci and Coogan have written the script with Peter Baynham, the co-writer of the Sacha Baron Cohen film, Br�no.