Lee Mack breaks silence after show's future is confirmed

Daily Mirror

22-05-2025

BBC One has given Lee Mack's long-running sitcom Not Going Out an update on whether or not a new will series will be commissioned
Lee Mack has shared an exciting career update as his hit sitcom Not Going Out is set to continue until at least 2026 after being renewed for a 15th season. The Southport comedian stars in the show, which debuted in 2006 and features him playing a fictionalised version of himself.
The programme faced a brief hiatus after its third series in 2009 but made a swift comeback in 2011 and has been a staple on our screens ever since. The BBC's recent confirmation means fans can look forward to more laughs for years to come.
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Overjoyed with the announcement, Lee expressed his delight: "I am delighted that the BBC are once again showing such great support for studio sitcom. It's a genre I've always loved and to be able to be part of it myself for so many years is both a privilege and an excuse not to have to shop, as I always take the underpants they give me home."
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Jon Petrie, the BBC's director of comedy, couldn't hold back his praise for Not Going Out, attributing its success to Lee Mack's comedic genius: "'Not Going Out' is in rude health as it passes its centenary episode, and that's due to the incredible creativity of Lee Mack, who has the most amazing ability to pack a show full of jokes", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"We're excited for audiences to find out what the new chapter looks like for Lee and Lucy." Not Going Out now holds the title of the UK's longest-running sitcom currently on air and is second only to Last of the Summer Wine in terms of longevity for prime time sitcoms in the UK.
The forthcoming series will feature a time leap for Lee and Lucy, along with a slight alteration in the format where each episode unfolds within a 30-minute timeframe. The synopsis states: "Series 14 now rolls the story on several years again, with the couple moving away from their suburban 'empty nest' and finding plenty of time to focus on each other... what could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: quite a lot!)."
Exact airing dates for the 14th and 15th series are still under wraps. However, details and episode titles for the imminent run next month have been disclosed, including House Move where Lee "asks to use the loo, causing unwanted tension with the vendor", Doll when he uncovers a box from the tip "to reveal a sex doll" and a disastrous holiday in Campervan.
In Oasis, the pair "start to blame in each other" as they miss out on tickets for the band's reunion gig, Dragon Castle sees them "on the set of a famous TV mini-series', and Hotel Room features Lee attempting to "take advantage of all the hotel's complimentary services".
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Lee is a familiar face as, besides creating Not Going Out, he is a presenter on ITV's 1% Club and a panellist on Would I Lie To You. Despite having one of the UK's top comic minds, Lee confessed to the Liverpool Echo in an exclusive chat that he has a unique approach to handling stage fright, reassuring himself that a less-than-perfect performance won't haunt him since he's unlikely to encounter the audience again.
However, he confessed that this tactic has its downsides, especially since it prevents him from performing in his hometown of Southport.
He said: "I've never done a gig in Southport and I never will. It just feels wrong for me to do that. It's just the nerves. It's too close to home.
"I know those people. I always have a psychological trick when I go on stage, I'll never see these people again for as long as I live and then it gives you a bit of confidence. You can't say that if your Auntie Gladys is in."
Not Going Out is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Series 14 is set to premiere in June 2025.