COMEDY star Steve Coogan isn't afraid to court controversy in his new stand-up tour.

For the all-singing all-dancing finale revolves around the rudest swear word you can probably think of.

It's really rather funny though - even though the offending taboo word is repeated over and over again in the musical number - a Victorian pastiche.

In interviews before the tour Steve had said he hopes the song will "break the taboo" surrounding the expletive.

The Diary caught the first night of the tour, his first in ten years, in Stoke-on-Trent this week.

And as the title, Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters, suggests Coogan's smarmy talk show host (pictured) looms large.

But fans of the Middleton- raised comedian will be pleased to hear that Paul and Pauline Calf make a welcome return, while roadie Tommy Saxondale is included and amateur stand-up Duncan Thicket.

The show hits Manchester Apollo next month and for those lucky enough to have tickets make sure you snap up a programme - it comes complete with a Steve Coogan calendar and five hilarious comedy Christmas cards.