Not Going Out axed

Mr.Nice Guy

Award-winning sitcom Not Going Out - written by and starring comedian Lee Mack - has been axed by the BBC.

Despite drawing audiences of up to 4m, co-writer Andrew Collins revealed it wasn't enough for the BBC.

"This is very sad news, and something of a surprise," he wrote on his blog. "We went out with our highest ever audience figure and critics seem to have been kinder to the third series."

http://www.teletext.co.uk/entertainment/news/c90158c930e21681ee304c7918c05c77/Not+going+out+anymore.aspx

Is anyone else as disappointed by this as I am? Fair enough it's not exactly Only Fools and Horses but I found it light-hearted fun and a lot more entertaining than most of the BBC's offerings.

I think it's a pity.

AlmightyCushion

I seen an episode or two and thought they were completely rubbish. I didn't find it particularly funny and a lot of the "jokes" seemed forced and unnatural.

DerekD Goldfish

It was pretty muck IMO

surprised it lasted till the 3rd series
Still not nearly as bad as the terrible sit coms on BBC3 though

mike65

I liked it

Was neither big nor clever but done in rat-tat-tat style meant it passed 30 mins quickly enough.

That quote also shows whats wrong with the beeb these days - be it lite or heavy if its not getting the numbers its on thin ice - they have the protection of the licence free and yet are in thrawl to ratings more than ever.

DerekD Goldfish

mike65 wrote: »

I liked it

Was neither big nor clever but done in rat-tat-tat style meant it passed 30 mins quickly enough.

That quote also shows whats wrong with the beeb these days - be it lite or heavy if its not getting the numbers its on thin ice - they have the protection of the licence free and yet are in thrawl to ratings more than ever.

It was given 3 seasons if it was any other station it would have been cancelled after 1 or at most 2 if it wasn't doing well enough
Im all for giving shows time to develop but how much rope can you really give shows?

mike65

You seem to missing the point competely - it was doing well in its slot beating ITVs Moving Wallpaper by abour 2 to 1 and they still weren't happy. Not Going Out 3.59m 17.4% Moving Wall 1.82m 8.5%

DerekD Goldfish

mike65 wrote: »

You seem to missing the point competely - it was doing well in its slot beating ITVs Moving Wallpaper by abour 2 to 1 and they still weren't happy. Not Going Out 3.59m 17.4% Moving Wall 1.82m 8.5%

I didnt say it wasnt getting decent numbers you had said

be it lite or heavy if its not getting the numbers its on thin ice

I was referring to this
while giving shows time is commendable after 3 seasons why shouldn't a station be looking at ratings its not like the show was providing a public service remit.
It was a light entertainment comedy if they weren't getting what they wanted why not give the time and budget to someone else

elshambo

I liked it!

I liked the first 2 series a lot more than the 3rd one
which was starting to get tired

the fact the critics were starting to like it was probably a bad sign:eek::rolleyes:
people who get paid to watch soap operas for a living and like it
tend not to be the most humourous dinner party guests:p

as for the "forced and unnatural" bit
it was a sit com based on gags and had two of the best "gag" men about as the stars, it was what it was and was very good at it imo

I think it was a sit com for people who like gags/comedy/stand up rather than a sit com for people who like sit coms!????

as mike65 said

mike65 wrote: »

Was neither big nor clever but done in rat-tat-tat style meant it passed 30 mins quickly enough.

you know light hearted fun that was actually fun unlike yer average "My family" type series

*probably not a bad idea cutting it though as it had pretty much run its course i think

Cole

Good news. BBC came to their senses, it's back tomorrow evening for a fourth series.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xb0w5

I'm watching an episode from the first series on Dave at the moment, great stuff.