Changing Ends is something of a nostalgic throwback on every level to a time when comedy was, well funny!
There have been many series set in an 80s childhood, and as I am the same age as Alan Carr I do enjoy this sort of thing. But this is funnier than Young Sheldon, perhaps less poignant but not without such moments.
The boy who plays young Alan steals the show however, he seems to be a genuine talent who might well go on to greater things. The rest of the cast, including Alan as his older self, are really just supporting actors. He hams it up a bit, just like the subject, but some scenes are almost tearful as well.
Of course there is an underlying theme of Alan fighting against, or maybe just shrugging off, prejudice, but mostly it is quite subtle, the script seems to assume intelligent viewers already understand what is going on, rather than having to spell it out to them as so many other series do these days.
Co-writer Simon Carlyle also writes 2 Doors Down, but this is his best yet. There isn't a high bar admittedly, but this is the best British comedy of 2023 so far.
