Not Going Out - Series 6
The scheduling of the new series of Lee Mack's hit sitcom Not Going Out has been announced. The eight episode run begins on BBC One on Friday 5th April - set your clocks to countdown now!
As previously reported, Tim Vine has left the show, so this sixth series focuses on the hilarious mishaps and ridiculous exploits that Lee encounters with long-suffering landlady and constant object of his affection Lucy, and their ditzy friend Daisy.
We'll have to wait and see exactly how Tim's exit is handled, but talking to British Comedy Guide last year to promote his book, Mack explained his thoughts on how one should handle cast changes in sitcom: "My theory is that people don't like change in sitcoms - and I know that because we've been through it before. People just don't like change and, every time we've introduced a new character to Not Going Out, the feedback I've got is always 'ohh, I'm not sure about that', whether it was Miranda Hart or Sally Bretton."
He elaborated on the plans to introduce a new character, or not: "The only one change that's never been questioned was Katy Wix as Daisy - and the reason why is we did it very slowly. We had her in one episode, we had her in the next series in two or three episodes, and then before you know it the character has snuck into the show without anyone even noticing - whereas other characters have just landed, and that's when people don't like change.
"So my theory is if Tim leaves that's one change, and if Tim is replaced that's two changes to get used to - the absence of Tim and the introduction of a new character - so my theory is 'one thing at a time'. So if Tim's not in it, that's one change - let's get through that, and then in the next series - if we get one - we can introduce a new character. So, in the last episode of this series, we're introducing a new character, which may or may not be a regular, we'll see how it goes. Just to be clear, we don't yet have another series - so who knows what the future of the show is."
Fans of the comedy will be pleased to see a couple of other familiar faces though, as Mack explained: "We're bringing in people like Bobby Ball a little bit more, and we've got Lucy's parents in more a bit this year too."
So, just why has Tim Vine left? No one seems quite sure, even Mack himself. "I think he just wants to do other things. We'll always be mates. It's a shame because he's a great actor but Tim, by his own admission, doesn't really like being part of a bigger group - he's more of an individual performer, if you know what I mean."
Talking about preparing for the new series, the star admitted: "Don't get me wrong, when we started I was worried. But now I've written it and tried it out live I'm absolutely not concerned at all. It would be lovely if Tim was in it and the door will be open if he wants to come back in the future, but I'm very pleased with what's been written."
So what do fans have to look forward to? Highlights for Lee's character in the new series include him convincing Lucy to spend a weekend on his dad's 'stylish' new boat even though she is terrified of water, finding himself a new girlfriend in a desperate attempt to make Lucy jealous, fighting for her attention when her first love reappears on the scene, and taking advantage of her new found counselling skills as a therapist. Other episodes include Lucy accidentally running over her client's daughter's beloved pet rabbit, Lee and Lucy having to come up with appropriate entertainment for her nine year old god-daughter and her fourteen friends and Lee, Lucy and Daisy getting stuck in a cable car on an Eastern European skiing trip.