Not Going Out is the perfect easy-watch and we're loving that BBC is replaying episodes during lockdown. The sitcom has progressed through the years from focusing on Lee, a layabout lodger struggling to hold down a job, to his family life with his wife and children. But what about away from the show? Click through the gallery to find out about the stars of the show families in real life…
Lee Mack
Stan- up comic and actor Lee Mack, 51, plays a fictionalised version of himself in the show, married to Lucy with three children. Away from the show, Lee's home life isn't worlds apart. He and his wife Tara have been married for 15 years and have three children together: Millie, Louie, and Arlo.
MORE: Not Going Out then and now: you won't believe how much the cast has changed over the years!
Sally Bretton
Sally plays Lee's on screen wife, Lucy, but also has her own family away from the sitcom. Sally, 43, likes to keep her private life pretty low-key, but it's well known that she's married to a photographer and the couple live together in their family home in Hertfordshire with their three daughters.
MORE: GMB's Alex Beresford reveals gorgeous companion helping him through secret split from wife
Hugh Dennis
Hugh Dennis is best known for playing Toby in the sitcom, but is also known for his roles in Outnumbered and Mock The Week. The actor has been married twice. He married his first wife, Miranda, in 1987 but divorced in 1993. Three years later he married his second wife Kate and the couple had two children together, Freddie and Meg. Hugh and Kate separated in 2015 and in 2018, it was confirmed that Hugh was dating his Outnumbered co-star Claire Skinner. Claire spoke about Hugh in 2019, telling Lorraine Kelly their relationship was a "lovely little life surprise."
Keep clicking for more photos...!
Abigail Cruttenden
Playing Toby's wife Anna in Not Going Out is Abigail Cruttenden. In 1997, Abigail appeared in the TV series Sharpe as the on-screen wife of the titular character, played by Sean Bean. After meeting on set, Abigail and Sean Bean married in 1997 and welcomed a daughter a year later. However, the marriage wasn't to last as they divorced in 2000. Abigail married her second husband, Jonathan Fraser, in 2003, with whom she welcomed her second child.
Bobby Ball
Frank is Lee's father in Not Going Out and played by actor and comedian Robert 'Bobby' Hall. Bobby married his first wife, Joan, in 1964 and welcomed two children, Robert and Darren who grew up to follow their father's footsteps and carve a career in comedy and are now known as the 'Harper Brothers'. Bobby and Joan divorced in 1970, shortly before he married his second wife Yvonne.
Deborah Grant
Deborah Grant, best known for her work in Jonathan Creek, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and more, plays Lucy's mum Wendy in the sitcom. Away from the show, Deborah has been married twice including to actor Jeremy Child (Darkest Hour, The Iron Lady) with whom she had her only child.
Tim Vine
Comedian Tim Vine plays Lucy's brother Tim in the show. The comic is not married with kids in real life, however he has a famous brother! The stand-up's older brother is journalist, broadcaster and former Strictly Come Dancing competitor Jeremy Vine.
Megan Dodds
British-American actress Megan Dodds played Kate, Lee's landlady and Tim's ex-wife, in the show but left after the first series. Megan is married to fashion photographer Oliver Pearce and the two have one child together.
Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.