On The Hour was a BBC Radio 4 radio show that ran from 1991 to 1992 for two series, with 6 episodes in each. Every episode ran for about 30 minutes, and it was Alan Partridge's first time doing work for the BBC.
In 1990, Alan was reporting on the British Archery Championships when mid-way through the event contestant Chris Curtis (who Alan speculated may have been drunk) accidentally shot an arrow at a fellow contestant, an unnamed woman. Alan was now reporting on a breaking news story and his "powerful and moving tour de force" was played on BBC radio news bulletins across the country, leading to Alan being included on a round-robin circular memo to BBC reporters that was asking for applications to join the team of a new Radio 4 current affairs show. This show was On The Hour.