BBC Not Going Out future confirmed as Lee Mack says 'it's not my decision'

Lee Mack has confirmed that his popular BBC sitcom, Not Going Out, won't be returning this year. The 55 year old comedian, who started the show in 2006, admitted that the decision to bring it back isn't up to him.

At its peak, the beloved sitcom attracted over six million viewers. Lee plays a fictionalised version of himself in the show, with Sally Bretton starring as his on-screen wife, Lucy.

After wrapping up the last series, they celebrated their 100th episode with a Christmas special. However, fans will be disappointed to learn that the future of Not Going Out is uncertain and out of Lee's control. Discussing his plans for the rest of the year, he said: "More 1% Club, more Would I Lie to You? and, for the first year in a long time, I won't be doing Not Going Out," adding that if the show does return, it would likely be in early 2025.

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Speaking to The Sun about the future of the show, Lee revealed that the decision wasn't his to make but expressed his desire to continue, saying he'd "love to do more", and that "it's great fun.", reports the Mirror. He added: "I just wait for someone to say, 'There's a bag of money, get on with it'."

Not Going Out first aired in 2006 and has seen the likes of Tim Vine, Miranda Hart and the late Bobby Ball in recurring roles over the years. Its longevity is only surpassed by a few British sitcoms, with Last Of The Summer Wine leading the pack with an impressive 295 episodes.

In 2009, the BBC decided to drop the show after three series but were forced to have a change of heart owing to an online petition and impressive DVD sales that insisted on its continuation. Lee Mack - renowned actor and comedian, who seems to have grown weary of the show, once revealed in an interview with The Sun, that he is unsure about crafting more content for it.

Thinking out loud, Lee mused: "We'll have reached 100 episodes by the time we've finished this latest series and - as I am quite obsessive about numbers - that could be a nice, round number to end on. Either that or we go on until we've reached 200! " Reflecting on Not Going Out's journey overtime in 2018, Lee shared: "Everyone told me that British sitcom was dead. Then I looked at Seinfeld and Frasier and thought, 'No it's not, it just needs more gags'."

Lees stint in comedy has significantly evolved since his initial days as a Blue Coat entertainer at the Pontins holiday resort in Norfolk. While speaking on The Graham Norton Show, Lee admitted: "I got very drunk, I had a go at doing it as Blue Coat. My mate said to me to just copy all the other comedians at Pontins and steal their jokes and basically talk to the front row."

His big break didn't come until he had his first open mic gig while attending Brunel University in 1994 and within the span of 18 months, he turned a full-time comedian.