Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Bobby Ball, Geoffrey Whitehead, Deborah Grant, Susie Blake, Tony Gardner, Jennifer Tollady, Rob Witcomb, Lloyd Griffith, Victoria Grove, Katy Cavanagh, William Andrews, Francesca Newman.
Comedy in times of hardship and national suffering is a difficult ship to steer, to navigate through the pressures of expectation and hope, of continuance, of that overused word of normality, is to arguably place to much a burden on the mind of the writer and the cast that have the added responsibility of their own lives to contend with, let alone an audience in dire need of a laugh.
Comedy though is important, more than that, it is vital in times of crisis, for in the ability to laugh we strike back at fear in a way that audacity and the so-called valour of looking desperation in the face cannot achieve the result of unity. In a laugh there is unity in a nation, and whilst other comedies have not delivered in such a way since the world was plunged into fear, it is the eleventh series of Not Going Out that has perhaps not only continued its high performance, but also acknowledged the situation behind the subdued, and in some cases the sadness, of the world to date.
The last season to include the superb Bobby Ball as Lee Mack’s on-screen father was always going to be a big ask in acceptance for cast and audience alike, but how to get around the restrictions imposed by the need to stay safe would have seen other productions shut down completely, overwhelmed by the need to adapt and confessing they could not do so.
Whilst the absolute feel of comedic intimacy is regretfully missing in this shortened season, it doesn’t make the series any less valuable, if anything knowing what was behind the creativity of the series, it makes it more endearing, and in episodes which dealt on jealousy, sexual adventure in the older selection of society, secrets and loss, as well as a stray adult toy being the centre of discussion, Not Going Out with Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Bobby Ball, Geoffrey Whitehead and Deborah Grant has been one to savour.
How to deal with the loss of Bobby Ball is an issue that will have to be addressed at some point, but for now, in a time in much needed care, attention and laughter, Not Going Out refuses to settle for second best and remains one of the most enjoyable comedy series around.
Ian D. Hall