Lee Mack’s long-running sitcom Not Going Out is set to return to BBC One for its 15th series, marking its 20th anniversary. The milestone will be celebrated with six brand-new episodes and a special documentary, both airing from Wednesday, 23 September.
The new series will premiere at 9:30pm on BBC One, immediately following the anniversary special, 20 Years of Not Going Out, which begins at 9pm. Both the documentary and the new series will also be available on BBC iPlayer from the same date, as reported by Cosmopolitan.
What to Expect from Not Going Out Series 15
Series 15 finds Lee (Lee Mack) and Lucy (Sally Bretton) entering a new phase of life as “empty nesters,” with their children having gone away to university. Despite this change, the show promises its usual dose of “marital mishaps” and chaos.
Key cast members returning include Lee Mack as Lee and Sally Bretton as Lucy. Their on-screen children, Francesca Newman (Mollie), Max Pattison (Benji), and Finley Southby (Charlie), will also make appearances. Additionally, fans can look forward to a guest appearance from The Young Ones star Nigel Planer, who plays himself after Lee encounters him in a restaurant.
The opening episode directly references the show’s anniversary, with Lee and Lucy hosting a 20th birthday party for Lucy’s goddaughter. A pivotal moment occurs when Lee intervenes after hearing someone play his “precious special-edition Frankie Goes to Hollywood record” downstairs, despite Lucy’s instructions to stay upstairs.
Further plotlines for the series, detailed by Yahoo, include a botched beauty treatment for Lucy, Lee spoiling a craft fair, and a storyline involving art theft and a Banksy piece leading to a blackmail plot. Lee also assumes he is best friends with Nigel Planer after receiving a birthday Cameo message.
20 Years of Not Going Out: The Anniversary Documentary
To complement the new series, the BBC is releasing a special documentary, 20 Years of Not Going Out. This programme will feature classic clips, unseen outtakes, and appearances from current and former cast members.
Lee Mack will reflect on the sitcom’s two-decade history, offering insights with archive footage, bloopers, and contributions from both cast and crew. The documentary will also provide a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a new episode, from the writers’ room through rehearsals to its studio recording.
How to Watch Not Going Out in the UK and Abroad
For viewers in the UK, Not Going Out Series 15 begins on Wednesday, 23 September at 9:30pm on BBC One, with the documentary airing beforehand at 9pm. Both programmes will be available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer from the same date.
To access BBC iPlayer, users will need an an account with a UK postcode and a valid TV Licence. Viewers travelling outside the UK who wish to access BBC iPlayer can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), such as NordVPN, to bypass geo-restrictions, assuming this aligns with broadcaster terms and conditions.
Previous seasons of Not Going Out are available on streaming services like Pluto TV and BritBox in the US and BritBox in Canada, but Series 15 will be confined to British television and BBC iPlayer.
This news offers a nostalgic yet fresh return for a popular British sitcom, ensuring Leeds and Yorkshire audiences, alongside a general UK news audience, can tune in for more of Lee and Lucy’s comedic adventures.
