Lee Mack's multi-award-winning studio sitcom will return for a new series on the BBC in 2025, it has been confirmed.

Evolving over the course of its eighteen year run, the comedy currently focuses on error-prone Lee, his long-suffering wife Lucy (Sally Bretton), their three children (Francesca Newman, Max Pattison and Finley Southby), friends Toby and Anna (Hugh Dennis and Abigail Cruttenden), and Lucy's parents, played by Geoffrey Whitehead and Deborah Grant.

The sitcom initially ran for seven series with Lee as Lucy's lodger in a trendy warehouse conversion flat, before switching to see them now as a married couple, some years into their relationship, living in the suburbs and raising children. The next series will be the sitcom's fourteenth, matching the first incarnation at seven apiece.

Only Mack and Bretton have yet been confirmed as returning for the six-part Series 14.

Lee Mack says: "Once again I'm very grateful that the BBC have trusted in us to keep alive the studio sitcom. I grew up watching this genre of sitcom on the BBC, and to be part of it myself is still a dream come true, even after 18 years of doing it. Here we go again....!!"

Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy at the BBC, says: "Not Going Out remains one of the UK's most cherished sitcoms, a true testament to the exceptional comedic talents of Lee and his team. The show's consistent success and popularity speak volumes, and we are beyond chuffed about its return."

Jon Thoday, executive producer at producers Avalon, comments: "We are delighted to see the BBC keep the fire of the studio sitcom alive and it is a privilege to work with Lee Mack, who is a true master of his craft, as well as the excellent team on the show."

Aside from the as-yet unconfirmed possible return of Mrs. Brown's Boys, Not Going Out is the only studio audience sitcom currently being made for British television.

The BBC says: "Not Going Out continues to be an important show for the BBC and was in the top two most watched comedies on iPlayer across the last 12 months alongside Ghosts, with audiences watching the back catalogue as well as new episodes. The series 13 Christmas Special (100th episode) averaged 4.6 million."

Not Going Out is written by Lee Mack and Daniel Peak.

This news was announced at the BBC Comedy Festival in Glasgow. The BBC also confirmed Outnumbered is to return for a new festival special, The Power Of Parker Series 2, Series 2 of Mammoth, LGBTQ+ chosen family sitcom Smoggie Queens and a series for Funboys, a former BBC Comedy Short Film.

In a speech to producers, Jon Petrie called for the TV industry to "save our sitcoms" with a focus on "protecting homegrown storytelling and creating the next generation of classics". He added: "Mainstream comedy is what viewers love best. It's written right through our comedy heritage and is so close to our hearts. It can tell our stories and bring us together like nothing else. That's why audiences and critics feel so passionately about it and have such a strong sense of ownership. We want producers to take risks and create the next generation of classic sitcoms and immortal characters that audiences will keep returning to for decades to come."