Male escort role for Alan Partridge star

Steve Coogan is to star as a male escort in a new film, Call Me, it was announced in Cannes today.

The comedian is working on the movie with BBC Films and his production company, Baby Cow.

Coogan recently appeared in Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.

The 40-year-old star has a colourful private life, far removed from that of his best-known comic creation, Alan Partridge.

He recently denied claims that the singer Courtney Love, widow of legendary Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, was carrying his baby.

But the unlikely pair are reported to be an item.

He allegedly cheated on his wife, Caroline Hickman, with two lapdancers, and last year he was divorced on grounds of unreasonable behaviour.