Commissioning the season of eight episodes, the BBC’s Lucy Lumsden said the show was a ‘perfect home’ for Mack's ‘gag-drenched style’.

The show attracts audiences of up to 4 million in its prime-time Friday night slot, was named best sitcom at the international Golden Rose awards this year and is up for two British Comedy Awards next week.

The new order, from producers Avalon, indicates the BBC believes it has achieved the difficult task of creating a hit, mainstream sitcom.

Avalon’s Jon Thoday, said he was ‘very pleased to be working with the BBC on another series of this very popular show’.

Not Going Out also stars Tim Vine as the best friend of Mack’s slacker character. Sally Bretton plays his flatmate and Miranda Hart a useless cleaner.

Mack is up for best TV comedy actor in next week’s comedy awards, while the show is in the running for best new scripted TV comedy.