Changing Ends
{{Short description|British television sitcom}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Changing Ends poster.jpg
| caption = Promotional poster for the first series
| genre =
| creator = Alan Carr
| based_on =
| writer =
| screenplay = {{plainlist|* Alan Carr
- Simon Carlyle}}
| story =
| director = Dave Lambert
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Oliver Savell
- Alan Carr
- Shaun Dooley
- Nancy Sullivan
- Taylor Fay}}
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = Richard Day
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 2
| num_episodes = 12
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Alan Carr
- Simon Carlyle
- Sarah Monteith
- Rupert Majendie
- Danny Julian}}
| producer = Mollie Freedman Berthoud
| editor = Thomas Perrett
| cinematography =
| runtime =
| company = {{Plainlist|*Baby Cow Productions}}
| budget =
| network = ITVX
| first_aired = {{Start date|2023|06|01|df=yes}}
| last_aired = present
}}
Changing Ends is a British television sitcom released on ITVX in the UK from 1 June 2023. It is a semi-autobiographical series about comedian Alan Carr growing up in Northampton during the 1980s, the son of a professional football manager. A second series was commissioned in November 2023 and released in July 2024.
Synopsis
Graham Carr was a former top-flight professional footballer who was the manager of Northampton Town F.C. when they won the Football League Fourth Division title in 1986–87.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckvlgk4gn7jo|title=Filming begins on Alan Carr childhood sitcom|website=BBC.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216150836/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckvlgk4gn7jo |archive-date=2023-02-16 |url-status=live}} The East Midlands in Thatcher's Britain however may have felt very different as seen through the eyes of his son, "when your family are Match of the Day and you’re a bit Miss Marple".{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a41934627/alan-carr-itv-show-changing-ends/|title=Drag Race UK's Alan Carr announces new ITV show from Gavin & Stacey team|website=Digital Spy |date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125220853/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a41934627/alan-carr-itv-show-changing-ends/ |archive-date=2022-11-25 |url-status=live}}
Cast
- Oliver Savell as Young Alan Carr
- Alan Carr as Older Alan Carr
- Shaun Dooley as Graham Carr
- Nancy Sullivan as Christine Carr
- Taylor Fay as Gary Carr
- Colin Salmon as Ron
- Jack Medlin as Alfie
- Rourke Mooney as Charlie Hudson
- Gabby Best as Angela Hudson
- Harry Peacock as Nigel Hudson
- David Mumeni as Mr Chapman
- Victoria Alcock as Val
- Cariad Lloyd as Jackie Gideon
- Michael Socha as Adam
- Dotty Davies as Kay
- Samantha Baines as Fiona
- Logan Matthews as Leslie
- Keira Chansa as Maz
Production
In February 2021 Carr and Baby Cow Productions began auditioning young actors to play himself in a sitcom that they were developing together.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northantslive.news/news/alan-carr-making-sitcom-northampton-5018585|title= Alan Carr making sitcom about his Northampton early years|website=Northamptonlive |date= 18 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216145820/https://www.northantslive.news/news/alan-carr-making-sitcom-northampton-5018585 |archive-date=2023-02-16 |url-status=live}} A non-broadcast pilot was made with BBC Studios in February 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/6738/alan-carr-is-changing-ends|title=Alan Carr making Changing Ends sitcom with BBC Studios|website=comedy.co.uk |date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216151503/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/6738/alan-carr-is-changing-ends/ |archive-date=2023-02-16 |url-status=live}}
A six-part series was commissioned by ITVX in November 2022, with Carr co-writing with Simon Carlyle and production by Baby Cow. Executive producers were Sarah Monteith, Rupert Majendie and Danny Julian, alongside Carr and Carlyle. It was announced that Oliver Savell would play the young Carr.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/itv-lautobiographical-alan-carr-comedy-changing-oliver-savile-1235169831 |title=ITV Lines Up Autobiographical Alan Carr Comedy 'Changing Ends' With 'Belfast's Oliver Savile Playing Comedian's Younger Self |website=Deadline |date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207073949/https://deadline.com/2022/11/itv-lautobiographical-alan-carr-comedy-changing-oliver-savile-1235169831/ |archive-date=2023-02-07 |url-status=dead}}
In January 2023, it was confirmed that Shaun Dooley and Nancy Sullivan would be joining the cast as Alan's parents Christine and Graham Carr, with Taylor Fay playing his younger brother Gary. The family's neighbours, Charlie and Angela, would be played by Rourke Mooney and Gabby Best, with Harry Peacock as Nigel, David Mumeni as Mr Chapman and Michael Socha as Adam.{{Cite web |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2023/01/27/52431/alan_carr_starts_filming_on_changing_ends |title= Alan Carr starts filming on Changing Ends |website=Chortle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128200350/https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2023/01/27/52431/alan_carr_starts_filming_on_changing_ends |archive-date=2023-01-28 |url-status=live}} Filming started that same month at an undisclosed location, but outdoor scenes were not filmed in Northampton itself.{{Cite web |url=https://www.northantslive.news/news/northamptonshire-news/filming-begins-alan-carr-comedy-8098976 |title=Filming begins on Alan Carr comedy Changing Ends about growing up in Northampton |website=Northantslive |date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216145742/https://www.northantslive.news/news/northamptonshire-news/filming-begins-alan-carr-comedy-8098976 |archive-date=2023-02-16 |url-status=live}}
A second series of six half-hour episodes was commissioned by ITV in November 2023, with filming scheduled for early 2024.{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/article/itv-commissions-second-series-alan-carr-sitcom-changing-ends#:~:text=ITV%20has%20commissioned%20a%20second,broadcast%20on%20ITV1%20in%202024.|website=RTS|accessdate=12 April 2024|title= ITV commissions second series of Alan Carr sitcom Changing Ends|first=Joe|last=Molander|date= 17 November 2023}} In November 2024, a third series and a fourth series were commissioned by ITV.{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a62831387/alan-carr-itv-changing-ends-renewed/ | title=Alan Carr's ITV comedy gets future confirmed | website=Digital Spy | date=6 November 2024 }}
Episode list
=Series 1 (2023)=
{{Episode table |overall=5 |series=5 |title=30 |director=20 |writer=20 |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Kick Off
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Simon Carlyle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Between a Dad managing a 4th Division football club and friends ditching him for being camp, Alan wants to change. Should he go against his instincts and become a footballer?
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Big League Player
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Simon Carlyle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Christine is desperate for Graham to take her on a night out. At school Alan is struggling to hide who his dad is from bullies – and there's the dread of communal showers looming.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Man On
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Simon Carlyle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Graham's woes extend off the pitch and Alan gets the acting bug, but Christine is worried when he comes home from school with a black eye.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Stud
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Simon Carlyle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A brilliant but troubled striker gives the Cobblers a lifeline, while keen birdwatcher Alan becomes eagle-eyed at news of a loose pelican. Then Sue's book club gets out of hand.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Sick As A Parot
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Simon Carlyle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = It's BCG day at Alan's school and he decides to pull a sickie. With Christine otherwise indisposed, it is up to a begrudging Graham to play nursemaid.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Fowl Play
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Simon Carlyle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Things are looking up for the Carrs – the Cobblers are in the quarter finals of the Milk Cup, Alan's got a part in the school play, and Angela's marriage has taken a nose dive.
| LineColor =
}}
}}
=Series 2 (2024)=
{{Episode table |overall=5 |series=5 |title=30 |director=20 |writer=20 |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Baby Face
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Gabby Best
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|7|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = It's 1987 and Northampton Town are leading Division 4, but the bullies are still making Alan's life a misery, while peer pressure forces him to accept a challenge, leading him into the murky world of fake IDs.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Party & the Pervert
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Gabby Best
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|7|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Knickers are being snatched and windows are being peeped in – it seems the Close has a pervert. Alan eagerly decides to play detective, even if it clashes with his 12th birthday.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Mad Dogs & English Nans
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Gabby Best
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|7|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A vicious Alsatian on the loose forces the Carrs and Nanna Joyce to have some unexpected quality time together, while Alan's little white lie turns the place into a pressure cooker.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Kissing Presumed Dead
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Gabby Best
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|7|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A sex education lesson strikes fear into Alan's heart while an impending testosterone-fuelled school disco gets him all hot and bothered – and not in a good way.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Better the Neville You Know
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Gabby Best
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|7|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = With the stress of the Cobblers trying to stay top of the league taking its toll, Christine strong-arms Graham into having a caravan mini-break in Great Yarmouth.
| LineColor =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = He Thinks It's All Over...
| DirectedBy = Dave Lambert
| WrittenBy = Alan Carr & Gabby Best
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|7|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = It's the day of reckoning – Northampton Town are all abuzz and anticipation of a promotion to the Third Division is in the air, but Alan is completely miserable.
| LineColor =
}}
}}
Broadcast
The series was premiered on ITVX before broadcast on ITV at a later date.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-01-29/new-alan-carr-sitcom-to-focus-on-comics-northampton-childhood|title=Sitcom Changing Ends tells story of Alan Carr's childhood as son of a Northampton football manager|website=ITV.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216151902/https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-01-29/new-alan-carr-sitcom-to-focus-on-comics-northampton-childhood |archive-date=2023-02-16 |url-status=live}} Changing Ends was made available for viewing on ITVX from 1 June.{{Cite web|url= https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-05-11/up-the-cobblers-alan-carr-to-show-hometown-off-in-new-sitcom|website=itv.com|date=May 11, 2013|accessdate=May 15, 2023|title= Alan Carr to 'show Northampton off' in new ITVX sitcom Changing Ends}}
Reception
The series was ITVX’s ‘most viewed’ comedy of 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/alan-carr-sitcom-set-in-northampton-named-most-viewed-comedy-on-streaming-platform-4577771|date=3 April 2024|title= Alan Carr sitcom set in Northampton named 'most viewed' comedy on streaming platform|first=Carly|last=Odell|accessdate=12 April 2024|website=Northampton Chronicle}}
In February 2024, the series was nominated at the Broadcast Awards in the Best Comedy Programme category.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/7756/black-ops-wins-at-broadcast-awards-2024/|website=Comedy.co.uk|accessdate=9 February 2024|title= Black Ops wins at Broadcast Awards 2024|date=9 February 2024}} The series was also nominated for the 2025 Broadcast Awards in the Best Comedy Programme category.{{cite web|url= https://broadcastawards.co.uk/shortlist-2025|website=Broadcastawards.co.uk|accessdate=14 January 2025|title=Shortlist 2025}} In March 2025, Savell was nominated at the 2025 British Academy Television Awards for Male Performance in a Comedy.{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/27/bafta-tv-awards-2025-nominations |website=The Guardian|accessdate=27 March 2025|title= Bafta TV awards 2025 nominations: full list
|date=27 March 2025}} He won for Best Comedy Performance at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in March 2025.{{cite web|accessdate=17 March 2025|url= https://rts.org.uk/article/nominations-rts-programme-awards-2025-announced|title= Nominations for the RTS Programme Awards 2025 announced|date=11 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/8285/rts-programme-awards-2025-winners/|website=Comedy.co.uk|date=26 March 2025|title= James Corden & Ruth Jones win RTS Judges' Award|accessdate=26 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|23576878}}
- {{British Comedy Guide|tv|changing-ends}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Changing Ends}}
Category:2023 British television series debuts
Category:2020s British sitcoms
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:Coming-of-age television shows
Category:Bisexuality-related television series
Category:Gay-related television shows
Category:Television shows filmed in England
Category:Television series set in the 1980s