From a football pitch in Northampton to a fast-changing Reading in Berkshire, Alan Carr’s Changing Ends (ITVX) and Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful People (BBC) beautifully explore the challenges of growing up gay in ’80s and ’90s Britain.
Growing up gay in ’80s Northampton was no bed of roses for the young Alan Carr, and it was even more complicated because his dad managed the Cobblers (Northampton Town Football Club). Written by Alan Carr and Two Doors Down’s Simon Carlyle, Changing Ends is a delightful exploration of Carr’s early life, from his first day at secondary school to his love of drama and early comedic talent.
To say Alan (Oliver Savell) doesn’t quite fit in would be an understatement. His passion for The Golden Girls, dislike of football, oversized glasses, gappy teeth, squeaky voice, and penchant for performance make him unique in suburban Northampton life. Luckily, his mum, Christine (Nancy Sullivan), is full of love and support, no matter her son’s differences. At the same time, his football manager dad, Graham (Shaun Dooley), is utterly confused by his son’s behaviour as he struggles with a football club at the bottom of the fourth division and a ground falling apart at the seams.
As a gay kid who grew up just down the road from Alan, Changing Ends perfectly captures the joy, fear, closeted community and humour of its time. From the gut-wrenching fear of the communal school showers to the flamboyant drama teachers now sadly absent from many schools, and the “boys must love sports” mentality of so many ’80s dads, uncles and teachers. Carr and Carlyle’s comedy is like a time machine, transporting you back to the analogue charm and darker social exclusion of late ’80s Britain.
At the heart of this joyous, tender coming-of-age comedy is young Oliver Savell, who captures Carr’s camp, theatrical, cutting humour in a perfect performance. The result is a hilarious, heartwarming semi-autobiographical comedy that shines through its performances, wit and endless charm.
From ’80s Northampton in Changing Ends, we travel to Reading in 1997, where Britain was on the verge of change as Tony Blair swept to victory in Jonathan Harvey’s superb sitcom Beautiful People. Here we meet Simon (Luke Ward-Wilkinson), his best friend Kylie (Layton Williams) and the Doonan family, led by his mum Debbie (Olivia Colman) and his dad Andy (Aiden McArdle), plus the eccentric, blind Auntie Hayley (Meera Syal).
Beautiful People ran for two seasons on BBC Two from 2008-2009 and was loosely based on the bestselling book by Simon Doonan. Full of raucous humour and exquisite performances and writing, Beautiful People would not only wear its ‘Camp as Christmas’ badge with Pride but also reflect on a period in British history full of hope and optimism. In 1997, the dark days of Thatcher were behind us, and Blair’s New Labour offered a light that had felt distant just a few years before. This was especially true for LGBTQ+ communities as New Labour committed to equality reforms that would finally end the Conservative bigotry of the past.
Often forgotten in the mists of TV history, Beautiful People was and still is a joyous celebration of difference, family diversity and cultural change that speaks to every closeted gay kid who longs to break free from their small-town home and embrace their gay self. Beautiful People celebrates social change, is a love letter to family, and is a hilarious coming-of-age, coming-out comedy that deserves far more praise.
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