Fans divided as Outnumbered returns for Christmas special

Fans were split over the return

The comedy topped the TV ratings as it beat the new Wallace and Gromit film and The King’s Message and was the most watched show on Christmas Day since 2008.

Gavin and Stacey, which first aired 17 years ago, was left on a cliff hanger five years ago as Nessa, played by Ruth Jones, proposed to Smithy, played by James Corden, in the last Christmas special. 12.3 million tuned in to see if Corden’s character said yes. 

Following the finale, viewers raved about the show online, praising Corden and Jones who also co-write the show together.

The BBC were probably hoping for a similar reaction when they brought back another fan favourite sitcom on Boxing Day when Outnumbered returned, showing the Brockton children all grown up.

The series which first aired in 2007 follows Sue, played by Claire Skinner and Pete, played by Hugh Dennis, as they raise their three young children who each have unique personalities and test their parents patience.

Returning to our screens eight years after the last episode aired, Jake (Tiger Drew-Honey), Ben (Daniel Roche) and Karen (Romona Marquez) were all grown up with Jake even having a child of his own.

The trio returned to a new family home to spend Christmas with their parents.

On top of the usual humour, chaotic family shenanigans and an unwanted guest in the form of friend Jane (Hattie Morahan), there was a more serious storyline.

Pete has been diagnosed with treatable prostate cancer, and feels nervous to tell his children as he’s worried about how they’ll handle it.

However, some viewers were less than impressed by the storyline which they labelled as ‘depressing’.

One fan took to X to complain saying: “The plot of Outnumbered Xmas special being the exact thing I’ve spent all holiday season trying to forget about was not fun. Whoever signed off on cancer being the plot line in a sitcom special needs to give their head a wobble.”

Another said: “My mum was diagnosed with cancer this year, she starts radiotherapy in 3 days, that Outnumbered special is really not what we needed on a boxing day where we’re all trying to take our minds off of cancer…”

While a third said: “Don’t ever think of bringing it back again it was awful.”

Guy Jenkin one of the show’s creators defended the plot saying: “People often remember Outnumbered for the delightful children, but it always dealt with quite serious things: dementia, death, homophobia.

“We dealt with that through how parents explain it to their children and this is the same except that the children are considerably larger.”

While some were left disappointed by the show, others enjoyed the nostalgia kick it gave them and praised the writers for addressing a serious topic alongside the humour.

One said: “Outnumbered was fab, we just don’t want to admit it.”

Another raved: “Can we have a full series of Outnumbered please as last nights was incredible.”

A third said: “I enjoyed it!  Was interesting seeing how the kids had turned out, and I liked how Ben had become the glue that held the family together.”