Lee Mack Outlines Unique Ending Vision for Not Going Out Sitcom
Comedian Lee Mack has exclusively disclosed his distinctive plans for concluding the beloved BBC sitcom Not Going Out, emphasising a preference for a subtle fade-out over a dramatic finale akin to other hit shows like Gavin & Stacey. The 57-year-old star, currently penning series 15 and 16 of the programme that has graced screens for two decades, envisions the series quietly winding down when the time feels right.
Fizzling Out Versus Fanfare Finales
In a candid revelation, Mack expressed his desire to avoid the grandiose send-off that characterised the 2024 Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, masterminded by James Corden and Ruth Jones. Instead, he imagines the show and its characters gradually disappearing from the airwaves once the BBC decides it has run its course. "I think if we ever ended it we’d just fizzle away slowly, that’s how I’d like to do it," Mack explained. "Maybe you do a Christmas special and then another one and before you know it you’re not on anymore."
He elaborated on this low-key approach, noting that the series began without much fanfare and should conclude similarly. "We didn’t make a big fanfare about starting. I think we’ll just do the last episode and then we’ll talk about whether we want to do any more, maybe they won’t want any, and maybe we won’t want any," Mack said. For now, the focus remains on the upcoming two series, with future decisions pending based on their reception.
Appeal of Infrequent Specials and Career Reflections
While Mack eschews a flashy finale, he admitted that one aspect of the Gavin & Stacey model does appeal to him: the infrequency of specials. "Only having to write an episode once every 10 years, yes that appeals to me, a lot!" he remarked. "I will be doing a Corden and Jones, having 10 years off you’ve got a long old time to write those jokes. That’s what I’d be doing."
Looking ahead, Mack ruled out creating another sitcom after Not Going Out concludes, citing his age and a desire to pass the baton. "Oh my god! No one will employ me after this," he joked. "By the time the show finishes, with the current commission, I’ll be, I think, 58, 59. I think it’s time to let someone else have a go. You can’t go on forever, can you."
Concerns Over the Future of Studio Sitcoms
Beyond his own show, Mack voiced concerns about the dwindling popularity of traditional studio sitcoms in British television. He pointed to the rise of comedy-dramas like Afterlife and Peep Show as factors contributing to the format's decline. "Why do I think there’s a lack of studio sitcoms? There was a surge a few years ago, you had Miranda, us, Mrs Brown’s Boys, I thought this was going to be the start of a new surge of studio sitcoms, the problem is it’s been so long now," he observed.
Mack highlighted a generational shift, noting that emerging comedians and writers may not recall when studio sitcoms dominated television. "When I was growing up it was only studio sitcoms that were called sitcoms. I think now we’re getting to the point now where comedians are coming through and writers probably don’t even remember studio sitcoms being the dominant force on television because it’s not been like that for a long time," he said. This, he fears, could make it challenging to find writers interested in reviving the genre.
He also critiqued the blurring lines between comedy-dramas and sitcoms, arguing that the re-labelling of shows has muddied perceptions. "I think what’s happened is comedy drama has been re-labelled as sitcoms, that’s the problem, because people see those and think, ‘That’s the sitcom I want to do.’ But I always see those shows as more like comedy dramas and what we do is sitcom, which is a slightly different thing," Mack concluded, underscoring his commitment to the classic format even as its future remains uncertain.
