When Martin Brennan first appears, many viewers were dumbstruck and confused as to how similar he was in looks to Alan Partridge/Steve Coogan. Some thought it was a different actor, but it soon became apparent, especially to those that knew Coogan could do voice impressions that it was indeed Steve Coogan with a good make-up job and contact lenses, to style him as an authentic farmer from Co. Sligo in Ireland. Coogan's accent and characterisation was also scarily authentic.
The Irish character Martin Brennan (aka "Irish Alan Partridge") became an fondly loved instant breakout hit in Ireland, and Irish viewers in the UK, when this episode was first shown; not only was the episode shown on what was the St Patrick's Day bank holiday Monday in Ireland, but as the character became increasingly subversive, making Partridge clearly uncomfortable, it became obvious that Steve Coogan was clearly chanelling his Irish heritage for the character of Brennan.