Not Going Out

Not Going Out is a BBC One sitcom that has been on air since 2006. It currently stars Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Finley Southby, Max Pattison and Francesca Newman. The series also features recurring appearances from Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Geoffrey Whitehead, Deborah Grant and Bobby Ball.

In previous series', the show has starred Tim Vine, Megan Dodds, Katy Wix and Miranda Hart.

Synopsis
The series revolves around the character of Lee (Lee Mack), a middle-aged, working-class man who is an unmotivated couch potato. He tends to spend his time watching television, or in the pub with his best-friend Tim (Tim Vine). Tim is the complete opposite to Lee - a middle-class accountant who always manages to find relationship opportunities, and more of a family man. Lee is very witty, humorous, and finds it difficult to express his deepest emotions, particularly love. His wrongdoings in life are usually attributed to his rocky relationship with his father, Frank (Bobby Ball).

The only thing that seems to get Lee off the couch, is his own chances for relationships with women. He lodges in an apartment with, initially, Kate (Megan Dodds), a feisty American lady and the ex-girlfriend of Tim, and then with Lucy (Sally Bretton), Tim's sister. Lee finds that he has feelings for both of his landladies during their tenancies, but it takes Lee seven years before he can reveal to any woman his true feelings, in this case Lucy.

Series 1
The show's original opening credits involved split screen shots of the three main characters (Lee, Tim and Kate) dressed up in formal attire holding a lit up prop word from the title intercutting each other. At the end the split images come together to show the three of them standing toward with Tim holding "NOT", Lee holding "GOING" and Kate holding "OUT". At the very end the lights in "GOING" flicker out.

Series 2-3
For series 2 the titles were changed with Lucy replacing Kate, but at the end when Lee's word's lights go out Miranda Hart appears holding a plug and says, "Sorry!"; this replicates her clumsy nature in the show itself. These titles were modified for the Christmas special with Miranda instead saying "Happy Christmas".

Series 4-5
With Hart leaving at the end of series 3 her part in the titles was taken by Katy Wix, though she doesn't say anything.

Series 6-7
Tim Vine's departure after series 5 promoted Katy Wix from the plug holder to the holder of the word 'NOT' for two series.

From series 8
Lee and Lucy are joined in the title sequence by their three children. Lucy now holds the word 'NOT' instead of 'OUT'. Molly, Benji and Charlie rest on the letters 'O', 'U', and 'T' respectively, rather than hold them up. These are the first titles in which the word 'GOING' remains illuminated by the end.

The theme for the song was created by Alex Hardcastle and vocals are by Stephen Triffitt, who is a Frank Sinatra impersonator.

Format
Episodes typically end with a scene involving Lee and Lucy (in series 1, Kate) summarising the events of the episode on the couch of the flat. In the first series the credits would roll across the bottom of the screen during the scene, but in subsequent seasons this was replaced with traditional scrolling credits while the theme plays.

Main cast
Main article: List of Not Going Out characters
 * Lee Mack as Lee
 * Sally Bretton as Lucy
 * Finley Southby as Charlie
 * Max Pattison as Benji
 * Francesca Newman as Molly

Recurring

 * Geoffrey Whitehead as Geoffrey
 * Deborah Grant as Wendy
 * Bobby Ball as Frank
 * Hugh Dennis as Toby
 * Abigail Cruttenden as Anna
 * Max Willis as Jack

Episodes

 * Series 1 (2006)
 * Serious
 * Death
 * Aussie
 * Stress
 * Kid
 * Caretaker
 * Series 2 (2007)
 * Mortgage
 * Gay
 * Librarian
 * Baby
 * Art
 * Dating
 * Gangster
 * Christmas special: Murder at Christmas (2007)
 * Series 3 (2009)
 * Pregnant
 * Winner
 * Amy
 * Party
 * Neighbour
 * Speech
 * Marriage
 * Christmas special: Absent Father Christmas (2009)
 * Series 4 (2011)
 * Drugs
 * Debbie
 * Movie
 * Dancing
 * Fireworks
 * Life on Mars Bars
 * Series 5 (2012)
 * Band
 * Dads
 * Camping
 * Running
 * Examination
 * Drunk
 * Series 6 (2013)
 * Rabbit
 * Skiing
 * Therapy
 * Conference
 * Rachel
 * Play
 * Magic
 * Boat
 * Christmas special: The House (2013)
 * Series 7 (2014-2015)
 * Mugging
 * Christening
 * Donor
 * Anna
 * Pointless
 * Alcohol
 * Surprise
 * Plane
 * Lucy
 * Christmas Special: Wedding (2014)
 * Christmas special: Christmas Shopping (2015)
 * Series 8 (2017)
 * Romance
 * Babysitting
 * Car
 * Hot Tub
 * Charlie
 * Marriage Guidance
 * Enough
 * Christmas special: The True Meaning of Christmas (2017)
 * Series 9 (2018)
 * Home Improvements
 * Escape Room
 * Stolen
 * Pets
 * Pants on Fire
 * Lollipop Man
 * Bust Up
 * Christmas special: Ding Dong Merrily on Live (2018)
 * Series 10 (2019)
 * Parachute
 * Holiday Share
 * Facts of Life
 * Schooling
 * Memory
 * Whodunnit?
 * Builder
 * Halloween special: Halloween (2019)
 * Christmas special: Driving Home for Christmas (2019)
 * Series 11 (2021)
 * New Year special: Resolutions (2020)
 * Small Package
 * Pub Quiz
 * Carol
 * Old Acquaintance
 * War
 * Christmas special: Panto
 * Series 12 (2022)
 * Painting
 * Text
 * Friend
 * Front Window
 * Jury
 * Tent