With England's success at the Euros the timing couldn't be better for the second series of Alan Carr's soccer sitcom Changing Ends.
After becoming the biggest comedy ever on ITVX with 7 million streams last year, Alan Carr’s semi autobiographical comedy is back for series two. Reprising their roles as the Carr family for a new run of episodes are Oliver Savell (young Alan), Shaun Dooley (Graham Carr), Nancy Sullivan (Christine Carr) and Taylor Fay (Gary Carr). Also returning are the Carr’s neighbours, the Hudsons, played by Gabby Best (Angela Hudson), Harry Peacock (Nigel Hudson) and Rourke Mooney (Charlie Hudson).
Changing Ends is based on Alan’s own life in Northampton in the 1980s growing up as the son of a fourth division football manager. The second season picks up shortly after the first, as young Alan contends with impending puberty and feeling sidelined by his family. With Graham Carr distracted by Northampton Town FC who are battling for promotion can he be there for his son when he most needs him?
Read a review of the new series here.
Read an interview with the ubdoubted star of the show, Oliver Savell, who plays young Alan, below.
Changing Ends, Saturdays from July 13, 9pm, ITV1.
How does it feel to come back to play Alan for a second series?
Well, my voice has gotten a bit deeper, so I was a bit worried when we started filming that I didn’t sound as much like Alan as I did before. But, of course Alan is growing older in the story too, he’s starting to develop and there’s lots in store for the character, so it’s OK, and it’s actually a lot easier to play him now that I know there has been a good response to the character. I was so happy with the reaction to series one, it’s gone so well and the comments have been so heart-warming. Having played him in series one, it made it easier this time because I feel like the character is already there. Putting the glasses on does really help me feel more like Alan, especially when I add in the teeth and the 1980s costume, although half the time people don’t notice I’m wearing the teeth, which is quite funny!
Was it like going into school the day after the series aired?
Lots of my friends were quite surprised, because I hadn’t told everyone it was coming out, but quite a few people had watched it. Now lots of them call me Alan when they see me! My friends and family absolutely loved the show – the day after the series came out on ITVX we had lots of people round to our house for a screening and it was just so nice seeing their reactions, especially when something funny happened and they laughed. It was just really nice that they enjoyed it.
What can we expect from series two of Changing Ends?
Series two picks up a couple of months after series one, and it’s just as heartfelt. Alan has grown up a bit, he has drifted apart from his friend Charlie now, and he's really good friends with Kay instead. He’s still getting bullied but he’s got his mum, his brother and Kay around him, so it doesn’t affect him too much, and his mum is just so supportive. Alan is beginning to find himself a bit more this time. He’s still close to his dad, but Graham is at the football quite a lot this series, so they don’t have much time together, it’s more about Alan and Christine. His mum gets him a lot more anyway, she sees him for who he is.
Overall, series two is just as heart-warming and funny as series one, and I’m still playing the same Alan. That’s what's so lovely about it, the fact that he's just himself and doesn't care what people think. He doesn't change what he likes to please others, so he still likes birdwatching and Murder She Wrote – even though people at school don't like those things, and take the mickey out of them, it doesn't change the fact that these are things he enjoys and he's just himself. There are still loads of 80s references in the show too, from the snow white jeans to the He-Man figurines, which I know are very nostalgic for people that grew up in the 80s.
It sounds like you all have a wonderful time on set?
This show is so much fun to film because all the cast and crew just feel like a big family, everyone is just so nice and encouraging. Dave is such a good director, and he's really supportive of how I'm portraying the character and what I'm doing in the scenes, which makes the job easier for me. A lot of the time loads of people will be laughing during scenes and I’ll just be sitting there giggling because the writing is so funny! Some days can be tiring because once we finish the scene most people can sit down, but I have to go to tutoring. It’s nice to be able to do it with my friends though and our tutor, Laura lets us play football for our P.E. lesson which is always fun – it feels a lot more easy-going than school!
Interview/picture: ITV1
