Its longest-running sitcom still on air

The BBC has commissioned a documentary celebrating 20 years of Lee Mack’s Not Going Out

The show is the longest‑running British sitcom currently on air, with 106 episode so far.

This anniversary documentary promises ‘a guided tour through the funniest moments, featuring classic clips, exclusive archive material and never‑before‑seen outtakes’.

The programme also goes behind the scenes of the forthcoming series, showing how an episode is made from the ground up, from the writers’ room, through read-throughs and rehearsals, right up to the studio recording.

Mack says: ‘After 20 years of Not Going Out we are delighted to finally give a warts-and-all peep behind the curtain of how it's made. Thankfully, we have Hoovered behind that curtain, but unfortunately the warts have not cleared up.’

The show was announced by Jon Petrie, the BBC’s director of comedy, at the broadcaster’s comedy festival in Liverpool today.

He said: ‘Reaching 20 years is an extraordinary achievement for any sitcom, and Not Going Out has more than earned its place in the comedy history books. Lee Mack and the whole team have created a show that continues to delight audiences with its sharp writing and brilliant performances.

‘ This documentary is a chance to celebrate everything the series has brought to the BBC over the past two decades, and to give viewers a rare look at how this much‑loved comedy is made. It’s a milestone well worth marking."’

The documentary  will air  on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year, made by Avalon - the company behind the sitcom itself.

Published: 13 May 2026