Not Going Out pays tribute to its late star

Lee Mack pays a typically comic tribute to his sitcom dad Bobby Ball in the next series of Not Going Out

The first episode of the new run features a less-than-flattering portrait of the late comedian in his role as Lee’s wayward father Frank.

The oil painting has been created by Lee’s mother-in-law Wendy (Deborah Grant) – prompting Lee and his wife Lucy (Sally Bretton) to grapple with how to break the news that they don’t necessarily like the likeness?

And the usually curmudgeonly Geoffrey (Geoffrey Whitehead) seems very keen on his wife’s painting – suggesting there might be more to it than meets the eye.

The 12th series of the sitcom, also starring  Hugh Dennis and Abigail Cruttenden, and made by Avalon, returns to BBC One this March.

Ball died on October 28, 2020, at the age of 76 from Covid complications.  The last Not Going Out episode he filmed aired in February last year, and concluded with an emotional montage of appearances, along with the Cannon and Ball theme Laugh Me A Laugh.

Published: 1 Mar 2022