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.
| Changing Ends | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for the first series | |
| Created by | Alan Carr |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Directed by | Dave Lambert |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | Richard Day |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Mollie Freedman Berthoud |
| Editor | Thomas Perrett |
| Production company | |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITVX |
| Release | 1 June 2023 – present |
Synopsis
editGraham 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.[1] 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".[2]
Cast
edit- 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
editIn February 2021 Carr and Baby Cow Productions began auditioning young actors to play himself in a sitcom that they were developing together.[3] A non-broadcast pilot was made with BBC Studios in February 2022.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] Filming started that same month at an undisclosed location, but outdoor scenes were not filmed in Northampton itself.[7]
A second series of six half-hour episodes was commissioned by ITV in November 2023, with filming scheduled for early 2024.[8]
Broadcast
editThe series was premiered on ITVX before broadcast on ITV at a later date.[9] Changing Ends was made available for viewing on ITVX from 1 June.[10]
Reception
editThe series was ITVX’s ‘most viewed’ comedy of 2023.[11]
In February 2024, the series was nominated at the Broadcast Awards in the Best Comedy Programme category.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Filming begins on Alan Carr childhood sitcom". BBC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Drag Race UK's Alan Carr announces new ITV show from Gavin & Stacey team". Digital Spy. 11 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Alan Carr making sitcom about his Northampton early years". Northamptonlive. 18 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Alan Carr making Changing Ends sitcom with BBC Studios". comedy.co.uk. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023.
- ^ "ITV Lines Up Autobiographical Alan Carr Comedy 'Changing Ends' With 'Belfast's Oliver Savile Playing Comedian's Younger Self". Deadline. 11 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Alan Carr starts filming on Changing Ends". Chortle. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Filming begins on Alan Carr comedy Changing Ends about growing up in Northampton". Northantslive. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023.
- ^ Molander, Joe (17 November 2023). "ITV commissions second series of Alan Carr sitcom Changing Ends". RTS. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Sitcom Changing Ends tells story of Alan Carr's childhood as son of a Northampton football manager". ITV.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Alan Carr to 'show Northampton off' in new ITVX sitcom Changing Ends". itv.com. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Odell, Carly (3 April 2024). "Alan Carr sitcom set in Northampton named 'most viewed' comedy on streaming platform". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Black Ops wins at Broadcast Awards 2024". Comedy.co.uk. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.