Sitcom neighbour 'grew up streets from Alan Carr'

It was a case of art imitating life for an actor playing one of Alan Carr's neighbours in a television sitcom as they grew up just streets away from each other.

Josiah Eloi stars in the second series of Changing Ends, which is based on Carr's childhood in the 1980s.

He grew up in Northampton as his father, Graham, was manager of the town's football club.

Eloi said he got an audition for the show, "playing a neighbour [and] the thing is I grew up two streets away from Alan Carr".

The series, which was released on ITVX last week, follows a young Alan in secondary school, alongside Northampton Town's quest for promotion.

Eloi, 25, said the role was "perfect" for him, but he felt the pressure to get it.

He said: "My first thought was, 'Great, I should be able to get this.' Then my next thought was, 'If I don't get this, I should probably find a new career path,' because if I can't even play myself this is going to be an issue."

The actor did get the part as a neighbour and supporter of Northampton Town, but said he was not a football fan in real life.

"My experience of football is stood on the side of the [Northampton] Racecourse [Park] watching my brother, freezing," Eloi said.

He said he met Carr and thanked him for the role, calling it "amazing" and that "I can't believe that you've let me do this".

Eloi said the comedian could not believe they grew up "round the corner" from each other and spoke about the area where they lived.

He said Carr was "exactly what you think he would be like so it was an incredible day".

Eloi had previously appeared on stage and in adverts, including one for a supermarket alongside singer Michael Buble.

But this was his first TV role and later this year he will star alongside Lee Mack in a Sky Christmas special.

Changing Ends can be seen on ITV1 on Saturday nights, or the full series is available to stream on ITVX.

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