FIRST LOOK Not Going Out

A first look at Lee and Lucy's new chapter as we fast-forward 8 years.

BBC One has released a first look at the upcoming fourteenth series of Lee Mack’s Not Going Out, which is the longest running UK sitcom currently on air, and newest member to the elite group of sitcom centenarians.

Airing in June, the new series will see the story of wise-cracking Lee and long-suffering wife Lucy enter a new chapter. 

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, played by 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 seven finale and Lucy having a baby shortly after. 

Next in Lee and Lucy’s lives, series eight jumped forward eight years into their marriage and into the midst of a chaotic family life with three children. 

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!

As the show heads into episode 101 and beyond, House Move sees Lee and Lucy decide to move house and view the home of their dreams. But when Lee asks to use the loo, it causes unwanted tension with the vendor.

In Doll, Lee brings a battered box back from the tip and gets a shock when he opens it in front of Lucy to reveal a sex doll… but doesn’t realise what he’s actually dealing with.

In Campervan, Lee borrows a dilapidated campervan from his cousin to take Lucy away for the weekend. She is not impressed by either the accommodation or the location. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere, they can’t escape the strange woman who knocks at their door.

In Oasis, some might say that Lee and Lucy were foolish to have tried to buy tickets to see Oasis in concert, because when they lose their place in the long online queue, they start to blame each other.

In Dragon Castle, Lee and Lucy are extras on the set of a famous TV mini-series. But unfortunately, Lee gets ideas above his station and sets his sights on an acting role.

And in Hotel Room, when Lee uses his collection of free discount vouchers to stay overnight in a mid-range hotel, he makes sure that he takes advantage of all the hotel’s complimentary services.

When it was last on air, Not Going Out was in the top two most watched comedies on BBC iPlayer alongside Ghosts, with 13.2m viewer hours in the last year, despite no new episodes.

The show’s 100th episode averaged 4.6m viewers at Christmas 2023 and it has also been revealed that a fifteenth series will air in 2026.

Produced by Avalon, Not Going Out is produced by Jamie Rix, directed by Nick Wood and written by Lee Mack and Daniel Peak. It’s executive produced by Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Ashley, Lee Mack and Jon Thoday for Avalon.

Not Going Out returns in June on BBC One