Changing Ends review: Alan Carr’s ITV sitcom is the making of a national treasure

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alan Carr’s new autobiographical sitcom, Changing Ends, is that most joyous of things: a smart, inventive, honest and charming coming-of-age story. With his big gap teeth, oversized specs and effete ways, Savell, as they used to say in those deep husky-voiced Hollywood trailers, “IS” Alan Carr. Savell’s Alan finally faces down his school bullies when he comes under the formative influence of his flamboyant new drama teacher, Miss Gideon, who introduces herself in the school canteen by crawling around like a cat “licking her bits”. There are plenty of knowing jokes, like when Graham orders his son to take down his poster of Prince because “he’s not a real man”, then Alan replaces it with one of George Michael.