Changing Ends

There are two shows that this Alan Carr effort really remind me of.

This is a 1980s version of two 1970s classics. The Dudley based Grimleys that starred Amanda Holden, Brian Conley, James Bradshaw and the real star turn, Noddy Holder. Then there was the much too short lived and brilliant Cradle to Grave. Difficult to look past the tour de force that was Peter Kay, utter genius in C2G (ably abetted by the fantastic Lucy Speed).

Hopefully Changing ends gets a longer run than Cradle to Grave which was criminally short at 6 episodes.

We've obviously moved far enough away from the 1980s to be able to eulogise it in the way that Ashes to Ashes etc. Did for the 1970s.

Carr's personal intrusions are well timed and well written, particularly the Prince / George Michael gag (Too soon?)

There are little lines like "Touch my Blue Nun and you're out" which will resonate with anyone born late 1960s hitting the full force of 1980s UK naffness at the Beefeater with Prawn Cocktail and Black Forest Gateau.

The star of it all, Oliver Savell, does an excellent job portraying the young Carr and hopefully he will have the career he wants from this like Laurie Kynaston and James Bradshaw before him.

The soundtrack is excellent too. So all in all an excellent first series that doesn't drag or outstay its welcome. Here is to more...It would be good to take this to sixth form. So at least 3 more series please.

Even if you don't like Alan Carr, it's likely you will like this very funny, on point sitcom with the stand up comedian taking us through semi-autobiographical moments in his life.

We see young Alan on his first day at school, being unexpectedly put on the football team (hilarious) faking sickness to avoid an injection (which leads to awkward but very believable bonding with dad) and all manor of japes that keep the audience hooked.

Carr's relationship with his family and few friends are nicely explored without being heavy handed and the humour is kept at an even pace, carefully balanced with tender / low moments but not too many to descend into melodrama.

Co-written by Carr, this show knows how to keep your attention with ideal casting all round, but Oliver Savell as the young Alan deserves particular praise for his stand out, star making performance. It would have been very easy for him to fall into caricature but somehow Savell manages to blend Carr's friendly campness and mix it with the real fears of a young boy as he tries to navigate the impending, uncharted teen years without going over the top and keeping the comedy this side of believable and engaging.

Well done to everyone involved.

Now, when is the second season coming out?

It's not perfect, nothing is. It gets 10 because it's as good as you get from this type of nostalgice wishy washy comedy soap.....

How BORING are the reviews whining about it/ Not sure what they're after or what makes them happy, but for me this is perfect eighties nostalgia fora Britain I didn't even grow up in... But Australia was similar, the bloody eighties was odd af no matter where you were..... Sydney back then was like this..

I loved the Football element and how it was so easily brished aside despite being so important to dad.. I loved the mums support and backing of her son no matter what and the dad who backed him too..

Over all it ticked boxes, thoughtful funny and entertaining... if not ten then what?

Extreamly Funny A lot of what i can relate to. Even though i am srait but in school i was extreamly feminate hated football and PE was made to do it .I remember one day getting onto my desk and doing impressions of animals to get laughs out of my class mates who where Bullies .But it worked It never made me popular but for that brief moment i had my class doubled with laughter .Its still made me no friends apart from one or two .. But i found having a sence of humer and using it gained me an advantage ,our school never had a drama class..We need more of this 26+27 mins is too short it needs more episodes like young sheldon 14+18 episodes not 6 could have watched more ..so Alan if you see this well done.

I absolutely love Alan Carr, so I was hoping for good things with this series - and, I got it!

The young lad who is playing a young Alan, is a very talented actor indeed. The comedic timing is perfect, and reminds me of good ol' classic British comedies.

A young Alan shows how important it is to be your true self... no matter how others may judge or perceive you to be. You were meant to be a star Alan!

Overall, this show is sweet, interesting, nostalgic, and full of known British actors. Binge worthy, and definitely the best series I've watched this year. Can't wait to see more! Do yourself a favour, and watch it! It won't disappoint.