The week in TV: Changing Ends

Changing Ends clearly wants to avoid being angst-ridden, but there's a dark thread here involving historical homophobia towards a spirited, vulnerable boy that keeps wriggling through.

Changing Ends review

Changing Ends beams with warmth despite - or more likely because of - the endemic 1980s homophobia which forms its backdrop. Dropped into this world, like a naive alien, is a camp, buck-toothed, socially awkward child, misunderstood by almost everyone and ostracised by most of them.

Playing Alan Carr's dad was moving, says Shaun Dooley

Shaun Dooley says playing Alan Carr's dad Graham in a new sitcom about the comedian's life was "moving".

Changing Ends review

A laugh-out-loud autobiographical comedy with a lot of heart.

Misfits: Series 4 Episode 7 review

No one, not even the newly emotionally vulnerable Rudy, can quite match the impact of Shaun Dooley, who has been quietly but furiously stealing scenes week after week as the bullet-faced Probation Greg.

Last week we were left wondering why new boy Finn has a woman gagged and bound to his bed. Naturally, it has to do with the occasionally wonderful but mostly weird superpowers with which all the Misfits are endowed - this one is possibly the most inventive yet.

Meanwhile, ex-EastEnder Shaun Dooley growls, gnashes his teeth and generally has a whale of a time as the terrifying new probation officer. But it's still Joe Gilgun as Rudy who gets the lewdest, crudest gags and all the best lines. This week Rudy is surprised to discover he has principles.

Shaun Dooley on playing 'a complete sociopath'

The former EastEnders actor discusses playing probation worker Greg in series four - and his repeated failed attempts to get a role in Game of Thrones.

The Bafta-winning Asbo superhero comedy drama returns for a fourth series, and two newbies are joining the community service gang - Jess (Karla Crome) and Finn (Nathan McMullen). Tonight's opening episode sees a dying man with a briefcase stuffed with cash stagger into the community centre. His presence releases an orgy of greed amongst the gang, and there's a new probation worker in town, played by Shaun Dooley.