Outnumbered finally returning to BBC for Christmas special after 8 years off screens-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

The Brockmans are returning to BBC for an Outnumbered Christmas special (Picture: BBC)

It’s official, Outnumbered is coming back to our screens!

Gavin and Stacey isn’t the only iconic sitcom returning for a Christmas special this year, the BBC has announced.

That’s right, award-winning comedy Outnumbered returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this festive period, with a plot summary teasing that the revival will ‘follow the chaos in the downsized home of Pete and Sue Brockman, as they grapple with the challenges of parenting kids who are now adults, with their own lives to lead.’

In news that will be music to fans’ ears, stars of the original much-loved series are returning for the special episode, 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 the daughter, Karen.

Speaking ahead of the exciting announcement, 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.’

Jake, Ben, and Karen are now grown up! (Picture: BBC)

Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy, also 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.’

Jimmy Mulville, executive producer of Hat Trick Productions, also described the special as ‘unmissable’.

Co-creator, writer and director Andy Hamilton commented: ‘It’s a very exciting prospect to be revisiting the Brockman family – older, but not necessarily wiser – as they steer a path through the perils of Christmas and the rapids of modern-day family life.’

Fellow creator Guy Jenkin said: ‘I really wanted to find out what the Brockmans were up to these days, so Andy and I had to write this special.’

Outnumbered first aired for five series from 2007 until 2014.

A final Christmas special then aired on Boxing Day 2016, which attracted an average of seven million viewers and has had fans begging for more ever since.

Outnumbered catapulted its child stars to household fame (Picture: BBC)

The show first aired in 2007 and ran for five series until 2014 (Picture: BBC)

The following year, Hugh expressed hope that more one-off specials would be made following its success.

Finally, one has been commissioned.

The show became loved for its comical yet realistic portrayal of family life, catapulting child actors Tyger, Daniel, and Ramona to fame.

All scenes featuring the kids were semi-improvised. While the adult cast members were given scripts, the youngsters were given last-minute instructions by the writers instead, allowing hilarity to ensue thanks to the unpredictability of what they might say.

As a result, the series scooped several awards, including from the Comedy.co.uk awards, the Royal Television Society, the British Comedy Awards and the Broadcasting Press Guild.

Reacting to the news of Outnumbered’s return, fans took to social media to scream and shout.

What do you think the family has been up to since? (Picture: BBC/Hat Trick/Colin Hutton)

‘The BBC1 Christmas line-up this year features the first Wallace and Gromit film in 16 years, the last ever Gavin & Stacey, new Outnumbered and Doctor Who episodes, and more unannounced. That’s a bit legendary’, wrote X user mothrasattorney.

‘This Christmas, let’s party like it’s 2008,’ declared HuwieMcChewie.

SarahKate_93 said: ‘What a time to be alive’, while TheAndyPandyy said they have ‘never been more excited about a Christmas special’.

Oh, we cannot WAIT!

Outnumbered returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.

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