30 January 2023 , 01:36
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One of Britain's longest running sitcoms could be coming to an end after the upcoming 13th series.
Not Going Out still pulls in millions of viewers but creator Lee Mack has cast doubt over the show's long-term future.
A 13th series of the comedy, in which Mack plays a fictionalised version of himself, is currently being worked on.
And the Would I Lie To You? star has hinted that he might not write any more episodes of the sitcom, which was axed after three series in 2009 only for the BBC to change their mind after an online petition and strong DVD sales.
The show first aired in 2006, with the likes of Tim Vine, Miranda Hart and the late Bobby Ball having all had recurring roles over the years.
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The show stars creator Lee Mack alongside Sally Bretton (BBC)Lee told The Sun : “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!”
The programme's longevity has only been surpassed by a handful of British sitcom, with Last Of The Summer Wine leading the way having gone on for a remarkable 295 episodes.
Lee writes the sitcom in his shed (BBC)Reflecting on its success in 2018, Lee said: “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’.”
Lee famously works on scripts in his garden shed and his co-star Sally Bretton, who plays Lucy, has previously said that she expects the show to last “for as long as Lee can bear to go and sit in that shed”.