Partridge film to shoot this year

Armando Iannucci has revealed that the Alan Partridge film is now underway.

The writer-director confirmed that the feature, which stars Steve Coogan as his radio host alter-ego, is scheduled to start shooting later this year, following years of development.

"It's just about all come together now, so that'll be shot later in the year," Armando told Empire.

Armando, who will be taking an executive producer credit on the film, added: "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."

The 48-year-old confirmed that Father Ted director Declan Lowney will occupy the director's chair for the Alan Partridge film.

Meanwhile, Armando - who is busy with political satire Veep for US network HBO - teased that he would be bringing something else to the screen, although he is keeping tight-lipped about the details.

"We've written it, but it's a slapstick movie, it's not political, it's not satire," he added.