Lee Mack shares surprising plans to end Not Going Out in a very different way

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Comedian Lee Mack has announced he’s planning to finish the sitcom Not Going Out as it begins its fifteenth season. The show, which first aired in 2006, is currently the longest-running sitcom on British TV, having been on air for 20 years.

I read in The Mirror that the show’s creator, Mack, actually prefers if the show just gradually loses viewers and ends naturally, instead of going out with one huge, final episode. He’d rather it just fade away slowly, which is a pretty interesting take!

Mack explained they didn’t announce the show’s beginning with a lot of publicity. They plan to finish the current season and then decide if they want to continue, acknowledging that either they or the network might not be interested in making more episodes.

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“For now, we’re definitely doing the next two series so we’ll see how it goes.”

Mack, referencing the show Gavin & Stacey created by James Corden and Ruth Jones – which originally ran for three seasons and then returned with Christmas specials in 2019 and 2024 – joked that writing just one episode every decade is ‘very appealing!’

I’d take a long break – a ‘Corden and Jones’ – about ten years, to really work on writing some good jokes. That’s what I’d do if I were in that situation.

Mack stated he doesn’t plan to start another sitcom after Not Going Out finishes, explaining he’s content to give someone else a chance.

“Oh my god! No one will employ me after this,” Mack joked.

I’ll likely be around 58 or 59 when this current series wraps up, and I think it’s time to step down and let someone else take over. Nobody can do this job indefinitely, can they?

Not Going Out was renewed for a six episode 15th season last year, which is expected to air in June.

Mack expressed his pleasure that the BBC was continuing to strongly support studio-based sitcoms.

I’ve always been a huge fan of this genre, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been involved in it for so long. Plus, it’s a great excuse to avoid shopping – I always end up taking the costume underpants home with me!

Not Going Out airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

I’m so excited! The latest issue of Living Legends, a gorgeous, full-color magazine all about Taylor Swift, just came out! It’s 100 pages long and you can grab a copy at any newsagent or order it online for only £8.99. I’m definitely getting one!

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2026-03-01 18:19