Changing Ends

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?

Just a very funny, sincere, very well acted comedy. For Brits of a certain age, the 80s references and nostalgia are spot on, much of it too obscure I'm sure for those not there at the time to appreciate fully.

Much of the comedy comes from two ongoing situations: the catty relationship between Alan's mum and the neighbours who live opposite, which mainly consists of a trade in (sharply witty) back-handed insults, and the other situation of course being Alan's campness, oddball unconformity, his path to discovering that he is gay.

A couple of reviews here have given totally unjust 1 ratings, citing that it's just a one trick gag which wears thin, but I didn't find that at all. I was chuckling throughout every episode. The campness of the young Alan is so well done, and the writing so on point, that it remains funny even after 12 episodes.

I'm not sure how non-Brits will receive this comedy, maybe it works fine, but I would highly recommend for Brits anyway.

Writing this having watched two seasons, and glad to hear that a further two seasons are planned.

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.

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?

Initially watched this for some real 80s nostalgia and this didn't disappoint. This soon became secondary to the absolutely phenomenal acting. This was a binge watch from the start, casting and acting is on another level mix this with a hilarious and sometimes sad story.

This really is a hidden gem and provides an insight into an amazing man. It's clear that Alan was always destined to be a star and I'm honoured that he shared his story with us and I'm sure he is proud of the amazing actors that brought his story to life.

The only problem is six episodes.. we need more.. I hope season two is coming soon and up the cobblers!