Armando Iannucci has announced that Malcolm Tucker will return in a new print piece, with the character set to debate Brexit with Alan Partridge.

The Thick Of It creator took to Twitter to inform his followers that the much-loved character – played on screen by former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi – will return for a new four-page feature in next week’s edition of The Big Issue to debate the issue with Partridge, who Iannucci created with Steve Coogan.

I'm Guest Editor of next week's @BigIssue . Featuring a 4-page debate between Alan Partridge and Malcolm Tucker on Brexit. #BigIssue — Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) October 10, 2017

It has been an incredible thrill working with the great @Aiannucci on this. And the debate is something else… https://t.co/uLO1ME7QPR — Paul McNamee (@PauldMcNamee) October 10, 2017


Iannucci teased fans earlier this morning by tweeting that he had “good news later for those asking for Malcolm Tucker on Brexit,” before then following that up with: “I have good news later for those asking for Alan Partridge on Brexit.”

I have good news later for those asking for Malcolm Tucker on Brexit…. — Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) October 10, 2017

I have good news later for those asking for Alan Partridge on Brexit — Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) October 10, 2017

Malcolm Tucker last appeared on our screens in October 2012, when the fourth and final season of The Thick Of It concluded. The character also appeared in the 2009 spin-0ff film In The Loop.

Fans of both characters registered their excitement following Iannucci’s tweets this morning – see a selection of the reactions below.


https://twitter.com/HareOnAnAnvil/status/917677571415924736

Hello @Aiannucci. Please tell me this is like a Justice League-style team-up movie…? pic.twitter.com/Ddb8TzflSy — Allan Price ?? ? (@AllanGPrice) October 10, 2017

Alan Partridge and Malcolm Tucker teaming up for Brexit would be the dream https://t.co/bay8J0mwFu — amy ?☃️? (@TheJorginhoRole) October 10, 2017

At last. An upside to Brexit. — Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) October 10, 2017

Meanwhile, Iannucci’s new film, The Death of Stalin, will be released on October 20 – watch the latest trailer here.

The Soviet satire will follow the events after the dictator’s death in 1953 and features a host of big names, including Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin and Paddy Considine.