Steve Coogan talks about life of sex, drugs and Alan Partridge in autobiography

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Comedian Steve Coogan discusses battle with drugs in new autobiography
He also reveals how he spent nights at Edinburgh festival sleeping around
And shares how Alan Partridge first emerged during stint on Radio 4 show

Published: 14:29 EST, 3 October 2015 | Updated: 02:47 EST, 4 October 2015

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Comedian Steve Coogan has revealed how he feared he was going to die after one drug-fuelled night at the Edinburgh festival.

Writing in his new autobiography, Easily Distracted, the 49-year-old recalls how in the summer of 1992 he suffered a 'cocaine-induced panic attack' after spending 'all night doing drugs'.

In an edited extract of the book published in the Guardian today, he also talks candidly about how 'sleeping around' was part of his lifestyle, saying that he 'didn't really think about the consequences'.

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Revealing: In his new autobiography, comedian Steve Coogan speaks candidly about his battle with drug addiction. Left, Coogan on stage in 1992, the year he suffered a 'terrifying' cocaine-induced panic attack

Coogan also offers insight into how Alan Partridge - the character that defined his career for two decades - first emerged during his time on Radio 4's current affairs parody On The Hour.

The autobiography, which will be published next week, also tells of Coogan's early life and his rise to comedy stardom.

In one startling extract, Coogan reflects on his drug use during the early 1990s.

The comedian, who says he will 'always be a recovering addict', talks about how for years he was supplied with cocaine for free and so never needed to pay for the drug himself.

He describes one 'truly terrifying' incident at the Edinburgh festival in 1992 when he believed he was suffering a heart attack after spending the night taking drugs.

Coogan also offers insight into how Alan Partridge (pictured) - the character that defined his career for two decades - first emerged during his time on Radio 4's current affairs parody On The Hour

Coogan with Caroline Aherne and John Thomson, with whom he won the Perrier award at the Edinburgh festival

According to the Guardian, he writes: 'I'd been up all night doing drugs and when I sat down to have breakfast I started feeling dizzy.

'My blood sugar level had dropped dramatically and I was on the verge of blacking out. I could feel pins and needles in my left arm, and my heart was thundering. I thought I was having a heart attack.

He adds: 'I couldn't stop thinking "I am going to die. This is it".'

The comedian was taken to hospital where he was given the all-clear. He saw a therapist and much later would undergo treatment in rehab, but said it took him years to acknowledge his addiction.