Sally Bretton

Not Going Out: Out and out winner where jokes stay in

Confirmation, if it were needed, that laugh-out-loud BBC comedy Not Going Out (BBC One, Thursday) is now fully at home in suburbia, and thriving with it.

In early 2017, Lee Mack's grumpy but gag-packed sitcom fast-forwarded into Outnumbered territory with Lee and Lucy (Sally Bretton) abruptly becoming parents to three young children. The addition of rosy-cheeked sprogs is a good fit for this special episode as the couple's warring in-laws compete for grandkid affection with gifts so lavish they threaten to outshine Santa. The late Keith Barron guest stars as a prickly toy shop employee.

Not Going Out review - Lee Mack's interminable comedy

It's unoriginal, unfunny and unapologetic about its retro roots. Why does anyone like this lukewarm sitcom?

Not Going Out series 8 preview

Not Going Out isn't the sort of emotive, appointment-to-view comedy that so many artistically motivated comics are making. But the rarity of being a light sitcom that's dependably funny thanks to script and character - not the dated, grating extravagance of the likes of Citizen Khan or Mrs Brown's Boys - is quite the achievement. No wonder it's future is assured. The day Not Going Out is not going out on TV is a long way off.

Preview - Not Going Out

I've always enjoyed Not Going Out - probably because I like Lee Mack, so the return of the series was met with trumpets and fanfare at Chez Hargreaves. But that was before I realised that the new series includes kids.

Not Going Out: the family sitcom?

Whilst I didn't find much to enjoy/laugh about in these opening episodes you can never count out Not Going Out. It had faced adversity many a time and coming bouncing back and at time when BBC comedy mainly consists of Still Open All Hours, Citizen Khan and Mrs. Brown's Boys perhaps I should just shut up and enjoy it.

TV preview: Not Going Out, BBC1

Has Lee Mack become a time traveller? In the new series of Not Going Out he suddenly has three children, all around primary/infant school age, whereas a year ago he had only just become a father for the first time. Apparently the new series of Not Going Out is set seven years on. But don't expect any hoverboards or meals served in pill form. This is about as traditional and old-fashioned as sitcoms get.