Outnumbered (British TV series)

Not to be confused with Outnumbered (American TV program).

Outnumbered
The title card from the first episode
GenreComedy drama
Sitcom
Created byAndy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
Written byAndy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
Directed byAndy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
StarringClaire Skinner
Hugh Dennis
Tyger Drew-Honey
Daniel Roche
Ramona Marquez
Samantha Bond
David Ryall
Rosalind Ayres
ComposerPhilip Pope
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes35 (+ 5 shorts) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJimmy Mulville
Jon Rolph
ProducersAndy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
Pat Lees
Production locationsWest London
CinematographyMartin Hawkins
Rob Kitzmann
EditorsMark Williams
Mark Davis
Nigel Williams
Steve Tempia
Simon Reglar
Will Claramunt
Running time30 minutes
40 minutes (specials)
Production companiesHat Trick Productions
BBC
Original release
NetworkBBC One
BBC One HD
Release28 August 2007 (2007-08-28) –
present
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Outnumbered is a British sitcom about the Brockman family, starring Hugh Dennis as the father, Claire Skinner as the mother and their three children played by Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez.

There were five series, which aired on BBC One from 2007 to 2014.[1][2][3][4] A final Christmas special aired on 26 December 2016.[5] The following year, Hugh Dennis expressed hope that more one-off specials would be made following the success of the 2016 Christmas special.[6] Another special is due to be broadcast on BBC One in December 2024.[7]

Produced by Hat Trick Productions, Outnumbered was written, directed and produced by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, although parts of the show are semi-improvised. The adult actors learn the scripts, while the children are given last-minute instructions by the writers instead.[8]

The programme has received critical acclaim for its semi-improvisational scripting and realistic portrayal of children and family life.[9] 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.[10] Plans for an American adaptation were announced in February 2009,[11] but as of November 2024 this has not materialised. The original series began airing in the US on BBC America on 30 July 2011,[12] as well as airing on PBS stations.

  1. ^ "Outnumbered: Overview". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  2. ^ Wyatt, Daisy (15 January 2014). "Outnumbered to end after final fifth series". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  3. ^ "C21Media | Home to the International Entertainment Community". C21media.net. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  4. ^ Methven, Nicola (16 July 2013). "Outnumbered WILL return for another series, Hugh Dennis reveals". Mirror. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ^ Drew-Honey, Tyger [@tyger] (13 November 2016). "#10yearsofOutnumbered. X…" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Outnumbered is coming back, reveals star Hugh Dennis". Digital Spy. 13 September 2017.
  7. ^ "The Brockmans are back for an #Outnumbered Christmas Special on #iPlayer In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their offspring (including one grandchild) to try and celebrate a traditional family Christmas. But fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services get in their way..." Facebook.com. BBC One.
  8. ^ Deacon, Michael (1 April 2010). "Andy Hamilton on the secret to Outnumbered's success". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference appleyard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  11. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (9 February 2009). "Fox to air US remake of Outnumbered". London: Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Outnumbered on BBC America". Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.