ITV 1% Club star Lee Mack confirms he 'won't be doing' BBC show in 2024

Lee Mack, the star of ITV's The 1% Club, has announced he will be stepping back from his BBC sitcom Not Going Out, stating "I won't be doing it" in 2024. The comedian and actor, who is also known for his role in the long-running series, has decided to take a break from the show to concentrate on other projects, reports Birmingham Live..

The 1% Club's leading man discussed the future of Not Going Out after the sitcom celebrated its milestone 100th episode during the Christmas period. The festive special was met with great excitement, marking a significant achievement for Lee, who not only stars in but also writes for the show.

Reflecting on his career, Lee recounted his early days performing at the Edinburgh Fringe with Catherine Tate and Dan Antopolski: "I was doing a sketch show at the Fringe in Edinburgh with Catherine Tate and Dan Antopolski," he said. He then shared an amusing anecdote about the genesis of a comedy idea that eventually grew into something much bigger: "There was a thought I had that wasn't even a joke."

Lee elaborated on the creative process that led from a simple humorous concept to a full-fledged pilot: "Me looking out of a window with a telescope, my wife walks in and I suddenly look up to the stars. In other words, what the hell was I looking at? At best mildly amusing, not a sketch but an idea, so I parked it.

"Then I had another and another and the sketch grew into a quarter of the show and then became a pilot.", he added.

When asked about his plans for the upcoming year amidst his current commitments, including the weekly airing of The 1% Club, Lee revealed his busy schedule: "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. If we do bring it back, we're looking at early 2025," he disclosed.

Furthermore, he stated: "We're talking about it now. I'd love to do more, I love doing it, it's great fun, I love the cast but [...] it's not always my decision, these things. I just wait for someone to say, 'There's a bag of money, get on with it."