Not Going Out

Lee is a childish northerner who lives in a fancy penthouse apartment in London who goes through a variety of jobs such as a janitor and ice cream man, as well as attempting relationships with female flatmates. His best mate, Daily Mail reading, middle-class citizen Tim is always there to stop Lee from getting in trouble, or not? Mayhem is never far away with cleaner Barbara who has never done an honest day's work in her life.

Not Going Out (2006-present) is a British sitcom created by Lee Mack for BBC One. Lee Mack plays Lee, a childish northerner living in a fancy penthouse apartment in London, who drifts through a string of short-lived jobs such as janitor and ice cream man while chasing romance with female flatmates. His best mate Tim (Tim Vine) is the sensible, Daily Mail reading middle-class foil who is always there to stop Lee getting into trouble, or at least to try. Sally Bretton plays Lucy Adams, and Katy Wix and Abigail Cruttenden round out the flatmate circle, with cleaner Barbara adding further chaos. The engine of each episode is simple: a scheme, a job or a date goes wrong and the friends scramble to contain the fallout. Across fifteen seasons and more than a hundred half-hour episodes, the show runs as a continuing comic saga with recurring characters rather than standalone stories. Its tone is breezy, cosy and affectionately silly, with a steady stream of innuendo and British farce. Fans of Man About the House, Friends and Outnumbered will find the same blend of warm ensemble mayhem and gentle absurdity.

Audience reception is positive, with the sitcom praised for its reliable lighthearted farce and chemistry between its leads, though ratings have wavered across seasons.

• Man About the House (1973)british sitcom tone, flatmate farce, comic mayhem around a loveable chancer
• Friendssingle man lodger farce, British sitcom comedy of errors with a sensible friend
• Outnumberedlong-running british sitcom with ensemble mayhem and gentle absurdity

Created by

Lee Mack

Release Date

2006-10-06

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (80)

What is Not Going Out about?

A childish northern chancer and his sensible middle-class best mate cause mayhem in a fancy London penthouse shared with flatmates.

What is Not Going Out like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Not Going Out as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Not Going Out violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Not Going Out.

What did critics think of Not Going Out?

Audience reception is positive, with the sitcom praised for its reliable lighthearted farce and chemistry between its leads, though ratings have wavered across seasons.

Which shows are like Not Going Out?

Shows with a similar feel include Man About the House (1973), Friends, and Outnumbered.

How long is Not Going Out?

Not Going Out: 15 seasons, 104 episodes.

Is Not Going Out still running?

Yes, Not Going Out is still running.

Where can I watch Not Going Out?

In United States, Not Going Out streams on Pluto TV, Britbox Apple TV channel, BritBox, BritBox Amazon Channel.