Steve Coogan stands up for commuters on busy train

This is the moment Steve Coogan stood up for commuters on a packed Southern Rail train - demanding passengers be allowed to travel with him in his first class carriage.

The Alan Partridge star, 52, was filmed exchanging words with a ticket inspector who told passengers they could not stand in the carriage without first class tickets.

The train – travelling from Lewes, Sussex to London Victoria – appeared to be very busy with people packed in and standing all the way down the aisles.

One commuter said: "The train was ridiculously overcrowded with people packed into the aisles and a few passengers had wandered into the first class carriage simply to find a seat or somewhere a little bit more comfortable to stand.

"He was saying that it was outrageous that they should face any penalty and that they should have somewhere to sit.

"He was being very chivalrous defending the other passengers. There was one woman who was being told to leave even though she had a lot of luggage and wanted to stay with her bags."

In the end however, Coogan's efforts were in vain, as the passengers were forced to leave according to The I.

A guard is reported to have said to the other passengers: "I don't think the ticket inspector realises who he is."

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