Not Going Out | Series 15 Preview (BBC One)
Hit studio comedy Not Going Out, created by Lee Mack, returns to BBC One and iPlayer this month for a brand new series and special documentary celebrating 20 years of the hit sitcom.
Not Going Out is the longest‑running British sitcom currently on air, with 106 episodes (and counting), beloved for its quick‑fire gags, inventive set‑pieces and unforgettable characters. Both the new series and the documentary will air on Wednesday 23rd September on BBC One.
Episode 1: When Lucy’s goddaughter Ella has her 20th birthday party in their house, Lucy forbids Lee from leaving the bedroom to check that everything’s OK in case he ruins Ella’s big day. But when Lee hears someone playing his precious special edition Frankie Goes to Hollywood LP, he can’t stop himself from rushing downstairs to save it.
Episode 2: When a beauty treatment goes horribly wrong, Lucy refuses to show her face in public. This creates an embarrassing headache for Lee because Anna and Toby are due to arrive at any moment for a long-awaited weekend visit. Lee spins all sorts of lies to stop them discovering the truth.
Episode 3: After receiving a Cameo birthday message from one of his comedy heroes, Nigel Planer, Lee does not realise that Lucy has paid for it. So, when he sees Nigel in a packed restaurant, he rushes over to introduce himself, assuming that they must now be best friends. This is news to Nigel.
Episode 4: When two women from the local church turn up on the doorstep to offer spiritual guidance, Lee and Lucy invite them in to referee an argument that they are having about money. Unfortunately, Lee and Lucy learn the hard way that the love of money is the root of all evil.
Episode 5: Lee is sceptical about all the witchy woo-woo stuff on display at an alternative craft fair where Lucy is trying to sell her badly made dream catchers. Unfortunately, his attitude irritates everyone at the fair and ensures that Lucy can’t sell any of her stock.
Episode 6: Lee finds an undiscovered Banksy and attempts to steal the artwork in a foolhardy quest for fame and fortune. When he is collared by a security guard, however, he panics and hints that he might be Banksy to get away. Now, he finds himself at the centre of a blackmail plot.
In addition to the new series there is a special documentary. For the first time, Lee Mack opens the doors to the creative process behind the show that has defined two decades of BBC comedy. This anniversary documentary, 20 Years Of Not Going Out will take viewers on a guided tour through the funniest moments, featuring classic clips, exclusive archive material and never‑before‑seen outtakes.
Lee will also reflect on the full history of the series from his unique perspective, sharing candid insights, behind‑the‑scenes stories and the surprising twists that shaped the show’s evolution. The programme also goes behind the scenes of the forthcoming series, offering unprecedented access as a brand‑new episode is made from the ground up.
Cameras follow Lee and the creative team from the first spark of an idea in the writers’ room, through readthroughs and rehearsals, right up to the studio recording of a special birthday‑themed episode.
Cast and crew from across all eras of the sitcom will also appear, paying tribute to the show’s enduring success and reflecting on its remarkable legacy.
Lee 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.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy says: “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.”
First going out in 2006, the show introduced us to Lee, a juvenile and lazy slacker drifting from one job to another – a man unburdened by ambition or drive, living off the good graces of his Californian landlady. That was before Lee’s best friend’s sister Lucy (Sally Bretton) bought the flat he lived in, setting in motion a will-they-won’t-they chain of events that led to the unlikely couple marrying in a highly emotional series finale and Lucy having a baby shortly after.
Next in Lee and Lucy’s lives, the show jumped forward eight years into their marriage and into the midst of a chaotic family life with three children. Last series rolled the story on several years again, with the couple moving away from their suburban ‘empty nest’.
The sitcom is now the UK’s all-time second longest running by number of series (and fifth by number of episodes). It stars Lee Mack (as Lee) and Sally Bretton (as Lucy). Over the series regular cast have included: Bobby Ball, Abigail Cruttenden, Hugh Dennis, Megan Dodds, Deborah Grant, Miranda Hart, Tim Vine, Timothy West, Geoffrey Whitehead and Katy Wix.
Not Going Out returns Wednesday 23rd September on BBC One and iPlayer.
