Lee Mack’s long-running sitcom, Not Going Out, is back with all six episodes of series 14 up on iPlayer. Featuring characters Lee (Lee Mack) and his ever-suffering wife Lucy (Sally Bretton), the latest series brings some big changes as the show enters a new era. With their kids all grown up, they’ve sold the family home and can now enjoy the freedoms that come with later married life.

A New Era

The latest season finds the duo yet again embroiled in a series of wacky antics thanks to Lee’s penchant for causing trouble. Starting with “House Move”, it sees Lee and Lucy try to tempt away prospective buyers from their dream home being sold by guest star Mike Wozniak. While by no means strong, it sets the series off on a good trajectory by maintaining a firm grip on its comedy style.

The second episode follows the duo having settled into their new home and sees the latest series going from strength to strength. Entitled “Doll”, it sports some of the series’ best laugh-out-loud moments as the story finds Lee enthralled by a surprisingly lifelike sex doll. However, from this point on, the series falls by the wayside and starts to show some wear and tear due to its longevity and new format.

From Ensemble to Double Act

One of the biggest changes to Not Going Out’s new series is the cuts made to the main cast. From the previous series, only Lee and Lucy remain.

While Lee Mack and Sally Bretton are outstanding throughout, it’s clear from the outset that the series is missing its much-needed third element. Try as they might, neither Lee nor Lucy’s characters is enough on their own to carry what, in the past, have been, the show’s stronger comedic moments.

Characters like Toby and Daisy, as well as Lee and Lucy’s parents, all serve to add different dimensions and stakes to the show’s comedic scenarios, which the show is now missing.

Courting Past Glories and a Potential Bright Future

Adding to the problem are the episodes around the series’ midpoint. “Campervan”, “Oasis”, and “Dragon Castle” curiously have parallels with earlier episodes in the show’s history and are seemingly attempting to recapture the magic of these popular episodes; even “House Move” has moments reminiscent of Lucy’s introduction to the show.  

While revisiting the past isn’t necessarily a bad thing, none of these episodes add anything to what made their original counterparts great.

Fortunately, all is not lost by the end of the series. The final episode, “Hotel Room”, echoes the show at its best as Lee tries everything to get his phone back during a hotel stay. One of the series’ more outlandish scenarios, it could serve as a blueprint for how the show should move forward.

Featuring a host of new changes, Not Going Out’s latest series has some kinks to iron out. With only Lee and Lucy remaining from the main cast, the series needs to move away from its past glories in search of new ways of creating gold without a third element. However, despite a mixed bag of episodes, the show’s fourteenth series is still fun and manages to bring in a few laughs.

I Give Not Going Out Series 14: 7/10