<b>EXCLUSIVE

Alan Partridge will be the unlikely star of a major multi-million pound campaign to promote tourism in Norfolk.</b>

The local radio presenter was chosen after county council chiefs realised there were no other Norfolkians capable of attracting any visitors at all.

Limited options included dour Norwich City football manager Alex Neil, who is currently fighting a grim relegation campaign, former Hi-de-Hi! actress Ruth Madoc who was born in Norwich before escaping to Wales, and American blues musician Seasick Steve, who inexplicably lives somewhere in south Norfolk.

Partridge was deemed to be the best candidate because he is the most recognisable across Britain - even though he is a laughing stock. And not real.

Norfolk tourism officials have already begun shooting their first campaign, featuring Partridge on a pleasure boat on the Norfolk Broads.

They believe the advert will attract tens of thousands to the area, although this photo, leaked to the Suffolk Gazette, raises fears it may not be an instant success.

<center><a href="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/alan-partridge-norfolk-broads.jpg"><img src="http://www.suffolkgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/alan-partridge-norfolk-broads-566x377.jpg" alt="alan-partridge-norfolk-broads" width="566" height="377" class="aligncenter size-thumb_566x377 wp-image-2154" /></a></center><center><i>Smell my cheese: Partridge enjoying the Norfolk Broads</center></i><br><br>

Other plans include Partridge catching crabs in Cromer after a night out, and touring the Bernard Matthews turkey factory.

A tourism insider insisted: "The British public will take Alan Partridge seriously and we expect to see great results from our campaign."

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