When we first meet Lee in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out, the idea that he could ever become serious enough to marry and have children was a joke in itself.

But while his lack of ambition – and, at times, brain cells – could be a turn off, his unique charms appealed to Lucy and the pair went on to tie the knot and have two children.

Yet the early years of parenthood are omitted entirely – a strategic decision by Mack, which he explained during an interview for Radio Times’s Two’s Company.

"We always try and refresh it every few years," he said, reflecting on how the series has evolved as it returns for its 15th season and a special behind-the-scenes documentary to mark its 20th anniversary.

"Like in the latest incarnation, the kids have gone off to university, so it's just me and Sally in the house and that gives us scope to do something a bit different.

"It's very hard when you've got kids in a sitcom to not mention them... But if you say they're off at university, that's fine. They look after themselves. It's why we never did the baby. We jumped to the episode where we got married, and then the next episode they [the kids] were seven or eight years old.

"I didn't want Sally or me to be walking around with a papoose on."

But while they’re now "used to change", Mack wasn’t always so relaxed about it.

"We made the pilot, Catherine Tate was the leading lady, and then she became very successful doing her own stuff," he continued. "Then we did the first series with Megan Dodds and by series 2 she had gone. So when I first met Sally, I was already on my third leading lady. I was starting to think it was me.

"But in a way it was good in a way because it made me realise you have to get used to the change, and then we had so many casts coming and going, like Miranda [Hart], Katy [Wix], Bobby Ball, Tim Vine.

"At first I was worried, but then I realised that was very handy because it gives it a refresh all the time."

Not Going Out is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with new episodes arriving from Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Add Not Going Out to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.