I consider myself a massive fan of the show and of Lee Mack and his work in general. So it's with heavy heart to find that this Xmas special turned out to be a turkey dinner.
Lee, Lucy (heavily pregnant), Frank, Daisy, Toby and Anna get caught up in a robbery of a department store and are locked in for the night. All while trying to not upset the man with the big gun who is in with them.
It feels like it was just thrown together to fill a Christmas special slot on the BBC. The customary vocal pizazz between Lee and Lucy is replaced by boorish passages of play, unfunny jokes about pregnancy get churned out, whilst the other cast members - with the exception of Bobby Ball as Frank - are reduced to jostling for comedy moments that just aren't there. The premise quickly wears thin around the 25 minute mark, leaving the episode straining desperately for humour for another 20 minutes. While the pay off at the finale is warm for us many legions of fans, but it's unsurprising and doesn't go off with a big bang.
Since the great Xmas special in 2013, (The House), the two subsequent Xmas specials have declined in quality. If there is to be another series of Not Going Out, it's hoped that Lee can get is mojo back. For he is far better than this latest work is suggesting. 5/10