LEE Mack has revealed the future of Not Going Out after taking a year off the from the sitcom.
The comedian decided to step back from the BBC sitcom in order to host The 1% Club.
Not Going Out is the longest-running sitcom currently running on British TV, first making its way onto the airwaves in 2006.
So far, 100 episodes have been aired on screens across 13 series of the hit comedy show.
The most recent episode was seen by viewers as part of last year’s BBC Christmas TV schedule.
However, Lee, 55, made a huge move when he was handpicked to host the ITV game show, forcing him to temporarily step back.
But nearly two decades after its inception, Not Going Out is due to make another huge comeback with a new series landing on BBC One in 2025.
Lee said: “Once again I’m very grateful that the BBC have trusted in us to keep alive the studio sitcom.
“I grew up watching this genre of sitcom on the BBC, and to be part of it myself is still a dream come true, even after 18 years of doing it. Here we go again!!”
Sally Bretton also stars in the role of Lucy whilst the likes of Bobby Ball, Abigail Cruttenden, Hugh Dennis, Megan Dodds and Deborah Grant have previously appeared in the show.
Other names including Miranda Hart, Tim Vine, Timothy West, Geoffrey Whitehead and Katy Wix previously made up the rest of the cast.
Jon Petrie – who is Director of Comedy at the BBC – also spoke about the success of the series for the publicly funded channel.
He said: “Not Going Out remains one of the UK’s most cherished sitcoms, a true testament to the exceptional comedic talents of Lee and his team.
“The show’s consistent success and popularity speak volumes, and we are beyond chuffed about its return.”
This comes after the TV executive issued an urgent plea to the TV industry, as he asked companies to ‘save our sitcoms’.
He spoke yesterday at the BBC’s comedy festival in Glasgow where he urged producers to be more “ambitious” with their content.
“We want producers to take risks and create the next generation of classic sitcoms and immortal characters that audiences will keep returning to for decades to come,” Jon explained.
“But the truth is we’re still not getting pitched enough of the comedy we need to keep people happy…If our comedy eco-system is shrinking, then it’s on all us to fight for the right of UK mainstream comedy to exist,” he said.
“The sitcom isn’t dead but it needs a couple of Berocca. And a black americano with two sugars.”
Jon added: “We’re asking you to do something really ambitious and help save our sitcom. It’s what audiences want to see.”
Not Going Out is one of six new or returning shows to be given the greenlight by Auntie Beeb.
