Changing Ends pays tribute to Alan Carr's late co-writer Simon Carlyle
His unexpected death last summer shocked many people, with well-known individuals offering their condolences promptly. Among them was Louise Thornton from BBC Scotland, who hailed him as a "significant literary genius".
In a recent press release, the actors Carr and producer Mollie Freedman Berthoud, along with director Dave Lambert, shared their feelings about the challenges of returning to work without their dear friend who is dearly missed.
Carr informed the media that the thought of creating Changing Ends without his writing collaborator made him feel "very anxious". He mentioned that their close, genuine friendship provided an ideal space for creativity to flourish.
Thankfully, Gabby Best, who portrays Ange, was able to assist us with a few episodes. However, it can be challenging to collaborate with a partner who truly understands you and with whom you can be totally transparent," he described.
Me and Simon had a special connection - he could always give me his honest opinion about whether a joke was good or not. It was incredible to meet someone like him, and Simon was truly unique. We instantly got along.
Carr said, "It was challenging to write series 2 without him, and it still brings up strong emotions when I think about it."
The comedian and actor faced challenges in accepting the tragic loss, and producer Mollie Freedman Berthoud also shared her struggles with Simon's absence.
"It was really tough," she started. "Simon was amazing on the show, whether he was making everyone laugh or giving ideas for the script. He played a crucial role in the early stages, guiding Alan to tell his own story."
We recently talked about how enthusiastic he was about the episode concepts for the second season. He was very excited about them, which made it an easy choice for us to continue with the show. He had a great love for the series and was always supportive of Alan sharing his own story.
Nevertheless, it took us several months to determine how to function in his absence.
it was essential to the success of their latest project. Lambert emphasized their strong teamwork and mutual respect, highlighting the seamless collaboration between Carr and Carlyle. He described their partnership as vital and valuable, noting that their combined talents and dedication were evident in the project's outcome. Lambert expressed admiration for their ability to work effectively together, praising their skill and expertise in bringing the project to life. Overall, he commended Carr and Carlyle for their outstanding work and emphasized the importance of their partnership in achieving success.
He remembered: "They immediately connected, and their backgrounds were quite alike, despite Simon growing up in Scotland and Alan in Northampton. They had great chemistry and always made each other laugh a lot in the room."
"It was incredibly heartbreaking when he passed away, and it was extremely difficult to deal with."
In addition to his work on Changing Ends, Carlyle gained popularity for his Scottish comedy Two Doors Down, which became increasingly popular during its time on air.
After he passed away, the production team expressed their deep sorrow and lauded the writer's keen interest in discovering what enhances the humor of things.
Don't miss the new episodes of Changing Ends airing every Saturday at 9pm on ITV1. For those who prefer to stream, you can catch up on ITVX. And if you're a fan of Two Doors Down, you can binge watch seasons 1-7 on BBC iPlayer.
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