ITV GMB Richard Madeley on Alan Partridge comparisons

The 67-year-old has often been compared to Steve Coogan’s comedy character since becoming a regular presenter on the ITV morning show.

But he says the comparison doesn’t bother him unless it impacts his career.

Speaking on the How To Be 60 podcast, Richard said: “I do a lot of Good Morning Britain now and have found that all I have to do is cough or sneeze in the wrong direction to receive extraordinary abuse on Twitter. I mean, really amazing stuff.”

Asked if he was afraid of being “misrepresented” as the real Partridge, he replied: “You have to analyze these things and be scrupulously realistic.”

“If it affected the way I do my job, if it unbalanced me – it would be a problem, it would be important. But it’s not that, it’s just abuse. I honestly don’t care.”

Meanwhile, Richard also used his appearance on the podcast to take aim at TV presenters who would let success “go to their heads”.

The star, who previously hosted This Morning, said: “There are a lot of people on screen on TV who have it go to their heads.”

“We all know her. And you can see that they think that because they have access to people’s living rooms through the TV, that somehow makes them better. And I just think it actually makes them look ridiculous.”

Richard continued: “I pretty quickly developed a disdain for people on TV who think it makes them special in some way, because it doesn’t.”

“Just because you can read the autocue or learn a short piece to film out in the field. Why do you think that would make you better than everyone else?”