ITV's Changing Ends and Piglets branded 'best' and 'worst' of comedy

Alan Carr's sitcom continues to win fans, while the debut of Piglets did not go down so well.

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 20:00 Tuesday 9th July 2024

From Baby Cow Productions

Changing Ends SR2: on ITV1 & ITVX

Pictured: Oliver Savell as Young Alan & Missy Haysom as Donna 

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ITV viewers love Changing Ends - but were not convinced by Piglets. (ITV)

ITV viewers have been split over the broadcaster's Saturday night comedy line-up, calling it the "best" and "worst" of TV sitcoms.

Hit Alan Carr biographical comedy Changing Ends continued its popular series two with fans already calling for another instalment.

But the debut of police sitcom Piglets did not fare so well, as viewers called it "the worst comedy" and "a new low".

Changing Ends is continuing to cement its place as a TV comedy favourite, but unfortunately viewers were not so impressed with Piglets, which debuted straight after the latest episode of Alan Carr's series.

Praising Changing Ends, one fan commented on X: "Best comedy on at the moment by far," as someone else agreed: "One of if not the best comedy’s on tv now days."

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 20:00 Tuesday 9th July 2024

From Baby Cow Productions

Changing Ends SR2: on ITV1 & ITVX

Pictured: Oliver Savell as Young Alan 

This photograph is (C) Baby Cow Productions and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.  This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

For further information please contact:
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Oliver Savell stars as a young Alan Carr. (ITV)

They also called for Changing Ends to return for a series three, writing: "Omg that was another brilliant episode of #ChangingEnds hope there will be more series after this."

Someone else even suggested a Christmas special: "I would love to see what Alan and family got up to over Christmas in Northampton. Maybe a Xmas special EP @ITV?"

However, those hoping to settle in for a full hour of heartwarming comedy at ITV were bitterly disappointed by the debut of police training-based sitcom Piglets, starring Mark Heap and Sarah Parish.

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00:00 Tuesday 16th July 2024


From Moniker Pictures

Piglets SR1: on ITV1 & ITVX

Pictured: Mark Heap as Superintendent Bob Weekes & Sarah Parish as Superintendent Julie Spry

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Piglets came in for a lot of criticism after its debut. (ITV)

The reaction couldn't have been more different to Changing Ends as one viewer commented about Piglets: "Wow, I’ll give it to the break but I’m not holding out much hope."

Someone else wrote: "#Piglets #itv another contender for worst comedy I've ever seen."

Another viewer added: "I know comedy is subjective but you think of all the great shows either canned, sent straight to stream or on minority channels, yet #piglets is on Itv1. God knows what Heap is doing on it."

One person predicted: "Well this won’t be getting a second series," as someone else commented: "Well this is a new low for tv comedy."

Alan Carr is delighted people love Changing Ends so much. (ITV)
Alan Carr is delighted people love Changing Ends so much. (ITV)

Comedian Alan Carr has opened up on how much it has meant to him that viewers have loved the series about his childhood so much.

Talking to ITV’s Lorraine, Carr said he has been emotional over it doing well, because if people hadn’t liked it, it would have meant they didn’t like him. “The pressure was on because it was so personal,” he told host Lorraine Kelly.

“It’s about me. I wrote it and yeah, you do shows that some people don't take to and that's fine. But this one was so important - if you didn't like it, then it was me you didn’t like.”

“So this seven million streams, I mean, I was yeah, I have been very tearful about it,” he went on. “It's lovely that people have embraced it and taken it to their heart.”

Changing Ends airs on ITV1 at 9pm on Saturdays, followed by Piglets at 9.30pm.