Pete CooperNorthamptonshire
ITV
Nancy Sullivan (left) plays Christine, the mother of Alan Carr, played by Oliver Savell in Changing Ends
The actress who plays Alan Carr’s mother in his autobiographical sitcom said making the comic laugh on set was “an amazing buzz”.
Changing Ends, now in its third series, is based on Carr’s childhood in the 1980s.
The Celebrity Traitors winner grew up in Northampton and his father, Graham, was manager of the town’s football club.
Nancy Sullivan played Carr’s mother, Christine, in the show and said there was “nothing better” than when Alan was on set.
The 40-year-old said Carr helped her to master the role by telling her about his mother.
ITV
Alan Carr co-wrote the sitcom which is about his life growing up in Northampton
The show follows a young Carr, played by Oliver Savell, as he navigates secondary school during the mid to late-1980s.
He previously told the BBC the sitcom, which he co-wrote, was a “love letter” to his hometown.
Sullivan told BBC radio presenter Babs Michel that during the first series, Carr would give her advice saying: “Oh no, my mum wouldn’t say that.”
He also helped when the cast ad-libbed, she said.
But Sullivan revealed by the third series they had a better grasp of the characters, and the comic “was very much like ‘you’ve got it, you go for it’.”
ITV
Nancy Sullivan (centre) stars alongside Graham Carr’s actor Shaun Dooley (right)
Sullivan said: “What I love about working with Alan is there is nothing better than Alan being on set and laughing at you saying his jokes.
“If you can make him laugh by being his mum, that is just such an amazing buzz.
“His laugh is infectious.”
Changing Ends can be seen on ITV1 on Sunday nights, or the full series is available to stream on ITVX.
