He’s come a long way from being a British TV actor who could never, ever escape the ghost of Alan Partridge.

Steve Coogan once mocked that trap in “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story,” mocked the sanctity of Shakespeare with “Hamlet 2,” palled around with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson for the “Night at the Museum” movies, and “Tropic Thunder,” and started down the road to “Philomena,” which he had a hand in writing, producing and co-stars in, with films such as “In the Loop,” through “What Maisey Knew Yeah, he revisited Alan Partridge along the way, and had parts in “My Idiot Brother” and “The Other Guys.” And “The Trip,” with his foil Rob Bryden.

But now, Oscar nominations, as co-writer and producer, critical acclaim, sharing most every scene with Judi Dench. Yeah, he’s the Oscar underdog. I tend to track those long shots down this time of year.

We’re talking Friday. Suggested questions for Steve? Comment below.