Coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One on 23rd September – and premiering the same night as the new series of Not Going Out – is a one-off documentary celebrating the 20th anniversary of the series, and telling the inside story of the show created, written by and starring Lee Mack.
The longest-running British sitcom still in production, this one-off special has exclusive access behind closed studio doors to see exactly how the show is made. From the initial spark in a writers’ meeting, through theatre readthroughs where, uniquely, scripts are tested on an audience, to intensive rehearsals and finally the studio recording, cameras follow Lee, the cast and crew as they bring together a brand-new series coinciding with show’s milestone birthday.
In an in-depth interview, Lee shares the story of the show from his own perspective, with plenty of fascinating details and funny anecdotes along the way. Fellow stars Sally Bretton, Tim Vine, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant and Geoffrey Whitehead reflect on its phenomenal success, alongside guest stars Chris McCausland and Jocelyn Jee Esien, as well as producer Jamie Rix and director Nick Wood. Classic clips and rarely seen footage add extra context, insight and, of course, lots of laughs.
20 Years of Not Going Out (1 x 30) is produced by Avalon for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The producer is Adam McLean. The executive producers for Avalon are Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, Lee Mack and Jon Thoday. The commissioning editor for the BBC is Ben Caudell.
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What the press said about the last series of Not Going Out…
“in streamlining things quite as much as this move has, Mack and his co-writer Daniel Peak have secured its future for a long time to come, should they wish to continue, and in doing so kept the studio sitcom alive – again… This season feels like a refreshing blend of a slightly new approach with the established elements of the show that fans know and love.”
James Hibbs, Radio Times
“Lee Mack has to be the funniest man on TV right now. The BBC One sitcom returns with a slightly retooled format, but it’s still concerned with packing in more gags than any other show… He brings his stand-up skills and talent for physical comedy to Not Going Out…it made me laugh like a drain…Stay in and watch it.”
Anita Singh, Daily Telegraph
“Lee Mack has by stealth, become the nation’s favourite comic… Mack is one of those rare modern comedians who seem to have almost universal appeal…it’s Not Going Out that has turned him into a national treasure… it’ll be hailed a classic…”
Nick Duerden, The i Newspaper
“Beautifully crafted, classic sitcom tomfoolery”.
Craig McClean, The Observer
“Thank heavens, then, for Lee Mack’s Not Going Out, continuing to buck the trend as it returns tonight for its 14th series. I was about to say I don’t know how it does it, but I’m pretty sure I do. It does it by tapping into a whole bunch of old-school sitcom techniques (for which it makes no apology), with gags and set-ups that are shamelessly silly and, as often as not, hilariously predictable (that’s half the fun). It then puts these in a modern-day domestic setting and -hey, presto! – ratings gold.”
Mike Ward, Daily Express
“Farce isn’t easy to get right, but Lee Mack’s comedy mainstay — still flying the flag for that endangered species, the studio sitcom — returns with a mini-masterclass in escalating suburban absurdity.”
The Times
“The longest running sitcom on British TV is back for a new 14th season and the good news is, it’s still going strong! …The opening episode is a delightful farce”
Boyd Hilton, Heat
“As always with Not Going Out, the gag hit rate for the new run is high – there’s a joke every ten seconds – and the slapstick humour remains as strong as ever.”
Rod McPhee, The Sun
“…Lee Mack is so conscious that his creation is such an anomaly that he gives us no option but to crease up… the joke rate is so machine-gun rapid”
David Brown, Radio Times
“Lee Mack is certainly one of the funniest men on TV right now, if not the funniest… as well as Mack’s top rate performance, it does have some great laugh out loud gags.”
Bruce Dessau, Beyond the Joke
“Laugh-out-loud fun.” ★★★★★
The Sun
“Lee Mack is Britain’s wittiest man”
Pete Paphides, Radio Times
“Perfect Friday night escapism”
TV Times
“…with a barrage of one-liners from Mack, it’s near impossible not to get sucked in.”
Daily Mirror
“In a TV era obsessed with slick dramas, thrillers and satire, comedian Lee Mack is doing something radical – he’s trying to make us laugh. Out loud. Every few seconds. And he’s doing it the old – fashioned way, with a studio sitcom, a live audience and endless gags.”
Sara Wallis, New!
“…the funniest show on telly”
Mike Ward, Daily Star
“…jam-packed with witty gags and one-liners.”
James Moore, Daily Star Sunday
“The series remains a cornerstone of British comedy”
Ok Magazine
“The farce is as finely tuned as ever”
Daily Telegraph
Celebrating its incredible 14th series…Lee and Sally really get a chance to shine now it’s just the two of them.”
Kate Noble, The Sun
“The farce is as finely tuned as ever and once again, if one gag leaves you cold, don’t despair, you can rest assured, another one will be along shortly to keep you laughing.”
Gabriel Tate, Daily Telegraph
For more information contact Dan Lloyd or Lucy Plosker – dlloyd@avalonuk.com/lplosker@avalonuk.com
