Lee Mack

A welcome return for Lee Mack's likable sitcom, and veritable gag-alanche of pithy one-liners. When Lucy (Sally Bretton) attempts to secure a contract with a client at his house, she ends up accidentally running over his daughter's pet rabbit. It's just the start of a masterclass in situation escalation, encompassing kidnapping, hare-brained helpers ... and beating a second rabbit to death with a torch. "Hopefully, it had Duracell batteries in it. It's what the bunny would have wanted."

At the launch of the sixth series of Not Going Out, its star Lee Mack said the absent Tim Vine - who played Tim, Not Going Out's good-natured voice of reason and a perfect foil for Mack - would be replaced by an "abstract concept". What he meant was there'd be a lot more plot and story to make up for the Vine-sized gap. You'll be able to see what he was getting at in a very farcical opening episode involving dead rabbits.

All the usual Not Going Out tent-poles are in place; the quick-fire gags at which Mack is the unsurpassable master, the silly situations (very silly, as it turns out) and the excellent Sally Bretton and Katy Wix as Lucy and Daisy. It's frantic, frequently funny and refreshingly unpretentious. But you'll miss Tim Vine. I do.

Lee Mack's gag-packed, innuendo-laden creation is now on its sixth series, and has been sold to 120 countries. Set in London's Docklands, it follows happy-go-lucky slacker Lee (Mack himself) who has a crush on his flatmate Lucy (Sally Bretton), while Katy Wix (Anna & Katy) plays their dim-witted hairdresser friend Daisy. This eight-part run is the first without Mack's co-star and punning partner Tim Vine and begins with head-hunter Lucy going for dinner at a client's house in an attempt to secure a lucrative contract.

Interview: Lee Mack

Is Lee Mack, one of TV's most quick-witted comics, as funny off stage as he is on?

Lee Mack interview

TV Choice met Lee Mack to chat about the new series and life after Tim Vine...

Lee Mack reveals Not Going Out has different endings

Fans of the BBC One comedy Not Going Out may finally see the friendship between landlady, Lucy, and her flatmate develop into romance.

Mack, who plays unemployed lodger, Lee, has revealed that two versions of the final episode have been filmed.

Anna Crilly and Katy Wix have converted last year's very good sketch pilot on Channel 4's Comedy Lab into a full series, and deservedly so. There are some super moments here, not least the filthy German Countdown spoof Kuntworts, featuring a cameo from Lee Mack, and the bizarre Congratulation, a daytime TV show which doles out congratulations to the public delivered in dicey West Indian accents followed by gusset flashing. In terms of originality, you can't argue with that.

Like many comedy sketch shows, this first outing from likeable duo Anna Crilly and Katy Wix is a hit-and-miss affair. That's fine, though - the pair are still settling in and their skewed take on TV favourites offers plenty of promise. "Congratulation", a daytime show spoof done in West Indian accents falls flat, but there's a hilarious Scandinavian version of Countdown (complete with bewigged cameo from Lee Mack) and they nail the ludicrous business banter of The Apprentice to a tee.

This is one of those weeks when Norton's red banquette seems to have the pulling power of a locomotive. First there's Martin Freeman: the opening film of The Hobbit trilogy is released today, which means the diffident Freeman, who plays Bilbo Baggins, is about to turn into a major global star.

Also on the banquette will be Emma Thompson, Dawn French and TV's fastest wit, Lee Mack. Plus, for good measure, there's music from newly reunited Girls Aloud.