Outnumbered
| Outnumbered | |
|---|---|
 The title card from the first episode. |
|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Andy Hamilton Guy Jenkin |
| Developed by | Hat Trick Productions |
| Directed by | Andy Hamilton Guy Jenkin |
| Starring | Hugh Dennis Claire Skinner Tyger Drew-Honey Daniel Roche Ramona Marquez Samantha Bond David Ryall Rosalind Ayres |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 27 (+ 5 shorts) (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jon Rolph |
| Producer(s) | Andy Hamilton Guy Jenkin |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One BBC One HD |
| Original run | 28 August 2007 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Outnumbered is a British sitcom. Airing on BBC One since 2007,[1] it stars Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner as a father and mother outnumbered by their three children (played by Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez). There have been four series to date: 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Produced by Hat Trick Productions, Outnumbered is written, directed and produced by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, although parts of the show are semi-improvised.[2]
The programme has received critical acclaim for its semi-improvisational scripting and realistic portrayal of children and family life.[3] Ratings have been average for its time slot, but the series has won a number of awards from the Comedy.co.uk awards, the Royal Television Society, the British Comedy Awards and the Broadcasting Press Guild.[4] The first four series and the two Christmas Specials have been released on DVD. An American adaptation is currently being planned.[5] The series began airing in the US on BBC America on 30 July 2011,[6] as well as airing on PBS stations.
Other regular actors and actresses have reprises roles as supporting characters throughout the four series. Samantha Bond has appeared in all series as Auntie Angela, Sue's sister. David Ryall has appeared as Grandad, Sue and Angela's father in series 1 and 2 as well as the Christmas Specials in 2009 and 2011. Rosalind Ayres has appeared as Gran, Pete's mother in series 3, series 4 and the Christmas Special in 2012. Hattie Morahan has appeared in series 1 and 2, as well as the Christmas Specials as Jane.
In June 2012, Outnumbered was recommissioned for a Christmas special in 2012 and a fifth series in 2013.[7]
Contents |
Plot [edit]
Outnumbered is centred around the Brockmans, a middle-class family living in south London, whose two parents are "outnumbered" by their three, somewhat unruly, children. The father, aged 50, Pete (Hugh Dennis), is a history teacher at an inner city school and the mother, aged 45, Sue (Claire Skinner), is a part-time personal assistant.[8] The three children are: Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey), aged 15, whose teenage sarcasm and obsession with girls worries his mother,[9] Ben (Daniel Roche) aged 13, who is hyperactive, a pathological liar, does unusual things, and is always coming up with hypothetical questions like "who would win in a fight between...",[10] and Karen (Ramona Marquez), aged 11, who asks too many questions, frequently imitates a lot of what she sees on television and criticises nearly everything.[8][11] Other regular characters include Sue's 51 year old new age sister, Angela Morrison (Samantha Bond), and their father Frank (David Ryall), referred to as "Grandad", who is in the early stages of dementia. The writers also use the popular sitcom device of the unseen character in the form of Veronica, Sue's demanding boss in series one. In series two, the device is used again, but in the form of Sue's new boss Tyson, who is revealed to be a conman who absconds in the final episode of the series. Series three introduces Rosalind Ayres as Pete's mum, referred to as "Gran", who is addicted to online gambling and has a growing hatred for Pete's father. Other new characters in Series 3 include Kelly (Anna Skellern), on whom Jake has a crush, Angela's new husband Brick (Douglas Hodge), who is an American therapist, and his daughter Taylor Jean, who wants to live with her mum.[12] Also introduced is a campaigner against council plans to place speed bumps on the road (Alex MacQueen) who pesters the family.
Production [edit]
Outnumbered was the first collaboration between Hamilton and Jenkin since Drop the Dead Donkey ended in 1998.[8] It was commissioned by BBC controller Lucy Lumsden. The executive producer is Jon Rolph.[13] Originally a 20-minute long pilot was made; this was given to Lumsden, who then commissioned six episodes. The setting for the show is Chiswick, West London, with the show being shot on location in Wandsworth.[8] The house used for external shots is in Dempster Road, Wandsworth.[original research?] During the second series, the family receive a final demand for council tax from the fictional "Limebridge Council", sent to the fictional address of 19 Keely Road, London, W4 2CF.[14]
The writers use improvisation in order to achieve convincing performances from the child actors. Dennis commented: "In most sitcoms all the lines for children are written by adults. So they are speaking the words of people 30 years older. And you really want kids to have their own voices, and say their own things."[2] Jenkin added:
You rarely get the feeling that children in sitcoms are real. They tend to be the same type of character – the smartarse who says adult things – and they are rooted to the spot, staring at the camera, because they've been told to stand in one place and say the lines. We decided to attempt to do something that hadn't been tried before, bounced some ideas around and we got very keen on this idea of involving improvisation very quickly.[8]
The fourth series began on 2 September 2011 at 9.00 pm on BBC One.[15] After the series had aired, Tyger Drew-Honey suggested that there would be no fifth series because he and the other child actors were growing out of their roles. BBC Television's Head of Communications, Sam Hodges, reassured fans of the series that "contrary to reports, talks are already under way regarding a new series".[16]
Episodes [edit]
Ratings [edit]
Episode ratings from BARB.[17]
Series 1 [edit]
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | Share | BBC One Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 August 2007 | 2,715,000 | 18.8% | N/A |
| 2 | 29 August 2007 | 2,344,000 | 17.6% | N/A |
| 3 | 30 August 2007 | 2,366,000 | 15.8% | N/A |
| 4 | 3 September 2007 | 2,390,000 | 17.5% | N/A |
| 5 | 4 September 2007 | 2,583,000 | 19.2% | N/A |
| 6 | 5 September 2007 | 2,367,000 | 19.6% | N/A |
Series 2 [edit]
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | Share | BBC One Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 2008 | 3,830,000 | 16.2% | N/A |
| 2 | 22 November 2008 | 3,631,000 | 14.6% | N/A |
| 3 | 29 November 2008 | 3,481,000 | 13.6% | N/A |
| 4 | 6 December 2008 | 4,234,000 | 17.7% | N/A |
| 5 | 13 December 2008 | 3,882,000 | 14.5% | N/A |
| 6 | 20 December 2008 | 6,866,000 | 32.0% | 10 |
| 7 | 27 December 2008 | 4,864,000 | 21.4% | N/A |
Series 3 [edit]
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | Share | BBC One Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 April 2010 | 6,700,000 | 24.8% | 6 |
| 2 | 15 April 2010 | 5,820,000 | 20.8% | 11 |
| 3 | 22 April 2010 | 6,367,000 | 23.7% | 7 |
| 4 | 6 May 2010 | 5,901,000 | 22.6% | 10 |
| 5 | 13 May 2010 | 6,751,000 | 26.6% | 7 |
| 6 | 20 May 2010 | 6,507,000 | 26.2% | 7 |
Series 4 [edit]
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | Share | BBC One Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 September 2011 | 6,114,000 | 24.2% | 9 |
| 2 | 9 September 2011 | 5,370,000 | 20.2% | 14 |
| 3 | 16 September 2011 | 5,450,000 | 21.7% | 11 |
| 4 | 23 September 2011 | 5,210,000 | 19.5% | 10 |
| 5 | 29 September 2011 | 5,020,000 | 18.8% | 16 |
| 6 | 7 October 2011 | 4,780,000 | 16.9% | 17 |
Specials [edit]
| Airdate | Total Viewers | Share | BBC One Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 December 2011 | 8,474,000 | 31.0% | 10 |
| 24 December 2012 | 9,388,000 | 33.2% | 10 |
Reception [edit]
Ratings [edit]
The first episode received 4.1 million viewers (25.5% of the audience share) when it began and finished with 2.8 million (19.5%) at the end, which is larger than the average 2.2 million (14%) normally attracted by television shows in its particular time slot.[18] The audience for the second episode fell by half a million viewers, while still being the highest ranking show in its time slot, with 18% of the audience share.[19] However, it maintained a constant audience throughout the first series, with the fourth episode attracting 2.7 million viewers (20% audience share).[20]
Critical reception [edit]
The show initially received a mixed reception, though after the second series reviews have gradually shifted towards a fairly positive tone. The Daily Mirror found the mundane settings to be similar to the American sitcom Seinfeld, saying:
compared to the ridiculous carry-on of My Family, it's much more low-key and realistic. In fact it's so low-key, nothing actually happens, which could well be a nod to Seinfeld – the touchstone of all great sitcoms. The getting ready for school chaos is like Supernanny: The Movie only with nicer children. It's also taken a leaf out of Curb Your Enthusiasm's book with large chunks of improvisation – although the strongest language you'll find here is "ponk".[21]
Kevin Maher of The Times dismissed the programme, saying it was not funny or dramatic enough. He wrote:
Outnumbered was at its most meretricious. For every exchange between adult and child was hijacked by a crass sitcommy need for sotto voce punchlines and knowing winks to the wings. A protracted scene in which 45-year-old dad (Hugh Dennis) was unable to wrestle a live power drill from the hands of 7-year-old son Ben (Daniel Roche), and instead had to, ho-ho, pay him £5 for the privilege, was emblematic of the show's dubious capacity for fake pay-offs.[22]
Rod Liddle, writing in The Sunday Times, praised the show, although he was somewhat surprised, saying, "An exquisitely middle-class, middle-aged domestic situation comedy set in West London – and starring one of those bloody stand-up comics who now festoons every network, it really should be hated before it is even seen. Start liking this sort of programme and you are an ace away from enjoying Terry and June and having a house that smells faintly of weak tea, Murray Mints and urine. So, maybe it's just me, but Outnumbered is very funny indeed: despite its current bout of self-flagellation, the BBC still knows how to make people laugh. Comedy may be the very last thing the corporation does well."[23]
James Walton wrote in The Daily Telegraph that the domestic setting and more mundane storylines were a virtue, saying, "All of this feels both carefully observed and suspiciously heartfelt. More unusually, it's not contrived. Outnumbered sticks firmly with the mundane, yet manages to be funny about it. It doesn't avoid the sheer dullness involved in family life either – but, happily, depicts it with a winning mixture of exasperation and affection."[24] He did, however, criticise the scheduling of the programme saying, "Despite the very specific London setting, the series (shown in two batches of three, this week and next) will surely appeal to the parents of young children everywhere. As long, that is, as they're not asleep by 10.35pm."[24]
In 2008 review in The Times, Bryan Appleyard described Outnumbered as "the best British sitcom in years and among the best ever"."[3]
Awards [edit]
Outnumbered was nominated for the 2008 "Broadcast Award" for "Best Comedy Programme",[25] but lost the award to The Thick of It.[26]
The show was given the "British Comedy Guide Editors' Award" in The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2007[27] and the "Best Returning British TV Sitcom" in The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2008, beating Peep Show by six votes.[28]
In 2009, it won the Royal Television Society Award for "Scripted Comedy",[29] and two Broadcasting Press Guild Awards in the same year: "Best Comedy/Entertainment" and the "Writer's Award".[30] Outnumbered also won three awards at the 2009 British Comedy Awards: Best Sitcom, Best British Comedy and Best Female Newcomer for Ramona Marquez.
At the National Television Awards in 2011, Outnumbered was nominated for Best Comedy but lost out to ITV comedy Benidorm. It was nominated again the following year and won.
U.S. version [edit]
Fox has announced plans to make an American version of Outnumbered, created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. Larry Levin was to be both writer and executive producer. Bryan Gordon was to direct.[31]
"Larry wrote a fantastic script," said MRC TV topper Keith Samples. "Everything fell into place; it had a karmic feel to it. Kevin loved the original and loved what Larry did with the adaptation." An unbroadcast pilot has been made and further scripts have been written.[32] The pilot will be broadcast, but a date has yet to be given.[33]
DVD releases [edit]
All four seasons and the two Christmas specials are available on DVD. The first Comic Relief special is available on the Series 2 DVD, the first Sport Relief special is available on the Series 3 DVD and the second Comic Relief special is available on the Series 4 DVD. It has been said that the second Sport Relief special will either be available on the next Christmas Special DVD or the Series 5 DVD (if they will be filmed or if they have been filmed). The DVDs have been published by 2 Entertain.
| DVD Title | No. of discs | Year | No. of episodes | DVD release dates | DVD extras | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 | Region 4 | ||||||
| Complete Series 1 | 1 | 2007 | 6 | 17 November 2008 | 1 July 2010 | Interviews with the cast and writers | |
| Complete Series 2 | 2 | 2008 | 7 | 16 November 2009 | 2 September 2010 | The Comic Relief special, out-takes and deleted scenes | |
| Christmas Special 2009 | 1 | 2009 | 1 | 18 January 2010 | — | — | |
| Complete Series 3 | 1 | 2010 | 6 | 15 November 2010 | 11 February 2011 | The Sport Relief special and documentary | |
| Complete Series 4 | 1 | 2011 | 6 | 21 November 2011 | 1 March 2012 | Alternative scenes, deleted scenes, Comic Relief sketch | |
| Christmas Special 2011 | 1 | 2011 | 1 | 9 January 2012[34] | — | — | |
| Complete Series 1 & 2 | 3 | 2007 & 2008 | 13 | 16 November 2009 | — | Same as individual releases | |
| Complete Series 1–3 | 5 | 2007–2010 | 20 | 15 November 2010 | 5 April 2011 | Same as individual releases | |
| Complete Series 1–4 | 6 | 2007–2011 | 26 | 21 November 2011 | 3 May 2012 | Same as individual releases plus 2009 Christmas special | |
References [edit]
- ^ "Outnumbered: Overview". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ a b Tyers, Alan (2007-08-16). "Hugh not reading the script". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ a b Appleyard, Bryan (2008-11-30). "Outnumbered the British sitcom grows up". The Times (London).
- ^ "Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (2009-02-09). "Fox to air US remake of Outnumbered". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Outnumbered on BBC America". Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ http://www.c21media.net/archives/83864
- ^ a b c d e "Press Office: Outnumbered". BBC. 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ "Episode 6". Outnumbered. Season 1. 2007-08-28. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/08_august/17/outnumbered_episode.shtml.
- ^ "Episode and 4". Outnumbered. Season 1. 2007-09-03. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/08_august/17/outnumbered_episode.shtml.
- ^ {{cite The series started off with Jake being aged 11, Ben 7 and Karen 5 in series 1. web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/08_august/17/outnumbered_episode.shtml%7Ctitle=Press Office: Outnumbered Episode Synopsis|publisher=BBC|date=2007-08-17|accessdate=2007-08-22}}
- ^ "Outnumbered Characters". British Comedy Guide. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ "Press Office: Outnumbered Introduction". BBC. 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ "Series 2, Episode 5". Outnumbered. Season 2. Episode 5. 2008-12-13.
- ^ "Outnumbered Episode Guide". British Comedy Guide.
- ^ Published Friday, 6 January 2012, 10:08 GMT (2012-01-06). "'Outnumbered' to return for fifth series? - TV News". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
- ^ http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10
- ^ "News - Outnumbered starts with great ratings". British Sitcom Guide. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ Dowell, Ben (2007-08-30). "Supernanny and Silent Witness take lion's share". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- ^ Dowell, Ben (2007-09-05). "Hell's Kitchen goes off boil". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- ^ "Outnumbered". Daily Mirror. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-29.[dead link]
- ^ Maher, Kevin (2007-08-29). "Last night's TV". London: The Times. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ Liddle, Rod (2007-09-02). "The cheap laughs are the best". The Sunday Times (London). Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ a b Walton, James (29 August 2007). "Last night on television: Silent Witness (BBC1)/Outnumbered (BBC1)". London: Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ "News - Broadcast Awards 2008 shortlist revealed". British Sitcom Guide. 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Broadcast Awards 2008 - Shortlist". Broadcast Awards. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2007". British Comedy Guide.
- ^ "The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2008". British Comedy Guide.
- ^ "RTS Programme Awards winners 2009 in full". London: Guardian. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ "Broadcasting Press Guild award winners". London: Guardian. 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (2008-02-28). "Fox importing two British sitcoms". Variety. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
- ^ Hamilton, Andy (2008-09-18). ""I blame Piers Morgan...": Andy Hamilton Q&A". Chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (2009-02-09). "Fox to air US remake of Outnumbered". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Outnumbered Series 4 - Christmas Special [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
External links [edit]
 |
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Outnumbered |
