Review of the first episode as Lee Mack's sitcom turns 20

As covered in the congratulatory documentary that precedes the start of Not Going Out’s 15th series, Lee Mack’s sitcom was cancelled by the BBC in its third season – only to be brought back via fan pressure.

Without meaning to sound too unkind, it’s hard to imagine that upswell of public support happening now. The comedy has achieved the very rare milestone of running for 20 years by evolving towards a broad but shallow audience. It’s now the sort of mainstream programme unlikely, surely, to be many viewers’ favourite – while being solid enough not to attract opprobrium. 

The new run cements the evolution of Mack’s character, also called Lee, from jack-the-lad to middle-aged grump. Reluctantly hosting a goddaughter's 20th birthday party to tacitly mark the show’s own anniversary gives Lee the chance to grumble about kids being snowflakes, having ‘labels’ and being sober. It is, it has to be said, a remarkably tame house party.

Wouldn’t you know it, but such attitudes mean Lee finds himself at risk of being cancelled and having to issue the sort of insincere skin-saving apology demanded of politicians and fence-sitting middle-of-the-road ginger musicians.

In choosing his words carefully, he tries to interpret the mime of an ally, over the shoulder of her accuser – but inevitably getting the wrong end of the stick. It wasn’t a new gag when Fawlty Towers did it so superbly 47 years ago – but Not Going Out is definitely not in the business of reinventing the wheel.

What the show does have going for it is that there’s a joke every few seconds – maybe not a GREAT joke, but still…

 More often than not that comes in the form of sarcastic comments exchanged between Lee and wife Lucy (Sally Bretton), though the first episode shakes things up by having sharp-tongued young Scouser Shannon (Aiva Tambourini) putting the old man in his place.

Series 15 pretty much follows the format of the last one, although the writers are no longer strictly beholden to the action playing out in real time in every episode.  

Lee and wife Lucy are empty-nesters, living out in the country, with all other regular supporting characters left by the wayside – although Hugh Dennis and Abigail Cruttenden pay a visit as Toby and Anna in episode 2. A later instalment revolves around a guest appearance from Nigel Planer, while stand-ups Lucy Beaumont and Amy Gledhill play churchwomen going door-to-door in another. 

And so the dependable warhorse marches on…

• Not Going Out is on BBC One at 9.30pm, after the documentary at 9pm – and all episodes are on iPlayer now

Review date: 23 Sep 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett