Not Going Out

Lee Mack's gag-packed, innuendo-laden creation is now on its sixth series, and has been sold to 120 countries. Set in London's Docklands, it follows happy-go-lucky slacker Lee (Mack himself) who has a crush on his flatmate Lucy (Sally Bretton), while Katy Wix (Anna & Katy) plays their dim-witted hairdresser friend Daisy. This eight-part run is the first without Mack's co-star and punning partner Tim Vine and begins with head-hunter Lucy going for dinner at a client's house in an attempt to secure a lucrative contract.

Interview: Lee Mack

Is Lee Mack, one of TV's most quick-witted comics, as funny off stage as he is on?

Lee Mack interview

TV Choice met Lee Mack to chat about the new series and life after Tim Vine...

Lee Mack reveals Not Going Out has different endings

Fans of the BBC One comedy Not Going Out may finally see the friendship between landlady, Lucy, and her flatmate develop into romance.

Mack, who plays unemployed lodger, Lee, has revealed that two versions of the final episode have been filmed.

Lee Mack: I'd love to do Not Going Out movie and tour

Hit BBC sitcom Not Going Out soon will go out for live dates - if star Lee Mack gets his way. Lee, who co-writes the series, wants to take the show on tour - and give it the movie treatment.

A hungover Lee wakes up in bed with Lucy: "I take it you're naked as well?" she cries, horrified. "Well, I kept me socks on," he replies, "I've got some dignity." Yes, after several series of quip-tastic lusting after his flatmate, it looks as if Lee has finally got further than a kiss under the mistletoe. Good news? No - they're both in a state because they can't remember a thing, thanks to all the home-made potato hooch they drank. And they're desperate that Lucy's brother Tim shouldn't find out. From there we get a typically likeable, gag-rich storyline, helped along by the presence of peerless sitcom-senior Geoffrey Whitehead as Lucy's dad. Yes - her parents get involved.

Not Going Out: an appreciation

As Not Going Out series 5 draws to a close, Simon salutes a quietly brilliant sitcom...

There's no point looking to Not Going Out for bold surprises or multi-layered comic finesse. What it delivers are sharp, uncomplicated laughs, laced with a good-natured smuttiness perfect for Friday nights.

And the key words in that sentence are "it delivers". If you don't like one gag, there'll be another along momentarily, probably also revolving around misunderstandings or double meanings. Hence tonight, Lee (Lee Mack) is concerned about his nether regions, and Lucy is keen for him to examine himself properly. "Do you ever check yourself, er... downstairs?" she enquires daintily, to which Lee replies, "Yeah - until the woman downstairs tells me to get out."

It is, Lee explains "not the bratwurst but the brussels sprouts" that are causing concern, which leads to a lovely series of scenes with friend Tim as they try to establish the size sprouts should in fact be.