BBC sitcom Outnumbered returning after nearly a decade as original stars reunite
It’s been eight years since the Brockman kids and their beleaguered parents were last seen on TV - but BBC sitcom Outnumbered will be back for a Christmas special this year.
The one-off will reunite the cast of the much-loved series including Hugh Dennis as dad Pete, Claire Skinner as mum Sue, Tyger Drew-Honey as eldest son Jake, Daniel Roche as the middle child Ben, and Ramona Marquez as daughter, Karen.
Written and directed by the show’s creators, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, the story will show how the kids are now all adults - and one has a child of their own - but they are brought back together to celebrate a traditional family Christmas. Somehow fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services get in their way…
Hugh said: “I can’t wait for the Brockmans to be back together again. Pete and Sue have downsized, the children are no longer children, but I’m sure family life will prove to be just as chaotic as ever.” Claire added: “I’m really looking forward to being reunited with my TV family. Working on this wonderful BBC comedy doesn’t feel like work and is one of the greatest joys for us all.”
Outnumbered
Outnumbered ran for five series between 2007 to 2014 and has returned for a special just once, at Christmas 2016. While the show was scripted, scenes featuring the children were semi-improvised.
Its return was announced yesterday at the BBC’s comedy festival in Glasgow. Comedy boss Jon Petrie said: “Outnumbered is one of the crown jewels of British sitcoms. We're so grateful to Guy, Andy, Hattrick, and the cast for dusting it off and putting it back on display.”
He also called for more sitcom pitches from UK producers, Petrie said: “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.
“The truth is we’re still not getting pitched enough of the comedy we need to keep people happy…If our comedy eco-system is shrinking, then it’s on all us to fight for the right of UK mainstream comedy to exist.
“The sitcom isn’t dead but it needs a couple of Berocca. And a black americano with two sugars. We’re asking you to do something really ambitious and help save our sitcom. It’s what audiences want to see.”
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