Changing Ends: Alan Carr’s 80s Coming-of-Age Comedy Returns for a Third Series
The Carr family returns with more heartfelt moments, football tension, and teenage crushes as Alan Carr’s semi-autobiographical sitcom begins a new decade of life in Northampton.
Return of the Hit Comedy
The BAFTA-nominated series Changing Ends launches its third season later this month on ITVX, ITV1, and STV, continuing its mix of warmth, humour, and nostalgia. Since its debut, the show has earned over 14 million streams and an RTS Award earlier this year, showing how deeply its 1980s charm resonates with audiences across the UK.
Story and Themes in the New Season
The third series unfolds in the summer of 1989, where young Alan — played by Oliver Savell — has fully entered his teenage years. Adolescence brings confusion, hormonal chaos, and a new crush named Jake that stirs fresh emotional challenges.
Family and Football Pressures
Meanwhile, Alan’s father, Graham (Shaun Dooley), faces difficulties of his own. As the manager of Northampton Town, he struggles as the Cobblers slide down to Division Three. The show parallels these father-and-son conflicts — one about love, the other about leadership — weaving them together with Carr’s characteristic empathy and wit.
Adolescent Adventures
Between sleepovers, swimming lessons, and socially awkward nights, Alan wrestles with whether to hide his feelings or boldly reveal them, capturing the essence of that transformative late-80s period.
“The series gently balances both struggles — one on the pitch, one of the heart — with Carr’s trademark humour and affection.”
Author’s Summary: Alan Carr’s Changing Ends returns for a nostalgic third series, blending heartfelt comedy, teenage longing, and family tension against the backdrop of late-1980s Northampton.