Outnumbered

10 pearls of wisdom from the Brockmans

Outnumbered is back for its fifth and final series, and any parent could learn from the wisdom that Pete and Sue Brockman impart to their children Jake, Ben and Karen. Here are ten gems from tonight's opening episode.

Outnumbered Series 5 Episode 1 review

The high standard that Outnumbered has set remains and, despite the use of the word "typical" earlier in this review, the sitcom continues to entertain stoutly throughout with its astute observations and wonderful performances.

Hugh Dennis & Claire Skinner interview

TV Choice meets Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner who play Pete and Sue Brockman...

Hugh Dennis interview

Hugh Dennis, star of Outnumbered, reveals why the final series of the hit family sitcom may not be the last after all.

The Brockman children are growing up fast

Ramona Marquez is almost unrecognisable with her new straight, dark haircut; Daniel Roche, 14, seems to have grown three foot since the last series and has a deep, booming voice; while Tyger Drew-Honey, 17, has left school and drives a car.

Outnumbered series 5 - what's new?

The Thick of It's Rebecca Front will make a guest appearance when the growing Brockman family return to our screens in early 2014.

Last year the Brockmans decided to go away for Christmas: this year they're throwing a party at the heart of their community. But the bosom of the neighbourhood is not as pillowy and restful as they might like. The guests include Norris, who has opinions; Ray, who used to be a weatherman and doesn't seem to have coped well afterwards;
and Jane, whose romantic life is unmanageable.

Gran turns up for a surprise visit, Karen is online most of the time and at the window, there's the gentle, then insistent, tap-tap of a winter virus. There's only so much spirit-lifting a gathering of neighbours can be expected to do. For everything else, there's Ben and his party games. Christmas Swingball, anyone?

Sadly, our sole visit to the Brockman household this year suggests that the inevitable has finally happened: the young actors who play Ben and Karen are now too mature and self-aware for the comedy to work. Ben is alarmingly deep-voiced and large, and Karen - once the linch-pin of the show - has hardly any screen time at all. It's as if writers Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin have realised she no longer works as a character. If you remove the eccentric charm of Ben and Karen from the equation, then Outnumbered doesn't have any reason to exist. I suspect the fifth series next year will be the last.

Mark Heap interview

Mark Heap talks about his guest appearance in the Outnumbered Christmas special.

Can Outnumbered go on now its child stars are so big?

The Brockman family are back with another chaotic Christmas special. But now that 'children' Jake, Ben and Karen have all reached double figures, will the show be as funny?