Lee Mack Reveals the Worries Behind 20 Years of 'Not Going Out' Success
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- Lee Mack mengakui sempat cemas setelah dua pemeran utama wanita meninggalkan 'Not Going Out' di awal kemunculannya.
- Perombakan pemain justru dianggap menyegarkan cerita dan membuat sitkom ini bertahan hingga 20 tahun.
- Serial ke-15 hadir dengan lompatan waktu, anak-anak Lee dan Lucy kini kuliah, membuka alur cerita baru.
After two decades on air, Lee Mack has revealed the doubts that once haunted him when 'Not Going Out' lost two of its leading stars in the early seasons. The 58-year-old admitted he briefly thought he was the reason those actresses left.
In an interview with Radio Times, Mack recalled the difficult period when the 'Not Going Out' pilot starred Catherine Tate, who later chose to focus on her own comedy career. The first season continued with Megan Dodds, but she lasted only one series before eventually stepping down. "By the time I met Sally, I was already on my third leading lady. I started to think maybe the problem was me," he said.
Those worries faded after Sally Bretton joined as Lucy in the second season and has stayed ever since. Mack realized that cast changes are common in the television industry. "At first I was anxious, but then I realized it actually worked in our favor because it brought freshness," he added. A number of big names such as Tim Vine, Miranda Hart, and Katy Wix also featured along the way in this sitcom's journey.
Entering its 15th season, Mack and the creative team decided to make a time jump. Lee and Lucy's children are now university students, opening the door to fresher storylines. "It's hard if the kids are in every episode. With them at university, the stories can be more flexible," Mack explained. He also avoided scenes of cradling a baby because he considered them impractical.
"We always try to refresh things every few years. Cast changes actually keep this show alive," said Mack.
The decision to keep evolving has been key to the longevity of 'Not Going Out' amid fierce competition in the entertainment industry. For fans in Indonesia, this phenomenon shows that a sitcom with a dynamic formula can survive across generations. Adapting to change is a valuable lesson, especially in the era of streaming platforms that demand content innovation.
Going forward, will 'Not Going Out' keep its time-jump formula, or will it return to the roots of its story? What is clear is that Mack's 20-year journey with Sally Bretton proves that chemistry and script flexibility are the main foundations.
