The much-loved BBC sitcom is back after eight years – as the Brockman parents and kids gather for a festive lunch and learn about dad Peter’s diagnosis
The Brockmans face some difficult news in the upcoming Outnumbered Christmas special.
The episode, which airs on Boxing Day sees dad Peter revealing he has prostate cancer. In the return of the much-loved BBC sitcom, the family come to terms with the diagnosis as they gather for a festive meal. Back after eight years, the early-anticipated new episode will revisit the Brockmans as Peter (Hugh Dennis) and Sue (Claire Skinner), wait for their three grown-up children to return home. Trying to find the right moment to give them the cancer news, it’s dealt with in the touching and heartwarming way fans have come to love the series for.
Speaking at a screening this week, Hugh, 62, a patron of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Every family pretty much has had experience of that kind of stuff. My dad had cancer at 66 and survived until he was 88. It’s touched everyone. As well as it being a story which resonates, I’m sort of delighted if anybody goes and gets checked out, that’s a sort of little victory, isn’t it.”
In the Boxing Day show, fans will see Peter deliver the news to kids Jake, Ben and Karen. Tyger Drew-Honey, 28, Daniel Roche, 25, and Ramona Marquez, 23, reprise their roles as the couple’s now-fully-grown children. Reassuring them the prognosis is good and how he’ll undergo a routine operation, he delivers a poignant speech at the end of episode.
“I did find the speech very moving,” said Hugh. “I thought it was beautifully written. When they finally take the p*** out of me after what I think is a very deep and meaningful speech, that struck me as tremendously realistic.”
In the usual Outnumbered style, there’s comedy moments even when tackling such an important issue. Daniel revealed how they had to redo the speech scenes at the end because their remarks were too cutting. “We had to go back to redo that because we were too mean!” he told. “We were going ‘Are you drunk?’,” laughed Ramona.
Fans have since taken to Instagram to share their excitement ahead of the new episode, with one writing: “Can’t wait and so glad it is back. I love Outnumbered and I will definitely be watching it!” A second commented: “Cannot wait! The only special I’m excited about! Happily bring it back for a whole series please.”
“Can’t wait for this – so glad they’ve brought out a Christmas special,” typed another. Meanwhile, a fourth excited fan added: “I’m sorry but this has made my Christmas! Cannot wait to be back with the Brockman’s.” But in one image, Tyger Drew-Honey who plays Jake looks very different, with bags appearing around his tired looking eyes. While many expressed their concerns, fans instantly rushed to reassure one another that Tyger was simply wearing make-up for the filming procedure.
“It’s just make up due to the storyline they are doing, won’t say if not read. He hasn’t actually got those rings around his eyes,” said one. A second reassured others adding: “If you read the reviews he’s got a daughter who doesn’t sleep in the show.”
The show’s creators, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, have returned to write and direct the special. Andy said the storyline is treated with “love, affection, resilience and laughter”. Guy explained: “Nearly every family in the country has experienced it in similar forms, including the Royal Family. We just wanted to show how very normal it is and how the Brockmans dealt with it with warmth, love and especially humour because I think that’s a very British way of dealing with that sort of stuff.”
Set in the downsized home of Pete and Sue, as well as the original cast there’s also the new addition of a grandchild – who brings extra hilarity with her animal impressions. With neighbourly disputes over taking in never-ending deliveries of packages and a visitor outstaying their welcome – it touches upon themes families up and down the country will be facing this Christmas.
Inspired by their own lives, the writers and cast say art has become life with the show – with things written in the script eventually happening to them. “We have a thing on Outnumbered where Guy and I write something and then it happens,” explained Andy. Referring to the parcel joke, he continued: “And one of the writers, I won’t say who – but it’s not me – has been taking them in.” He went on: “The family got mice, I got mice. It’s happened in all sorts of ways on this one. Two days after completing filming my wife Libby dropped a casserole dish and then immediately looked at me and said ‘The curse of Outnumbered’. Maybe the Brockmans will go to the Caribbean…”
Outnumbered ran for five series between 2007 to 2014. The team reunited for a Christmas special in 2016, but there have not been any further episodes since then. While the sitcom was scripted, many scenes featuring the children were famously semi-improvised. As well as being married on screen, Hugh and Claire confirmed their real-life relationship in 2018.
Outnumbered Christmas Special goes out on December 26 on BBC One at 9.40pm. Visit Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker for more information.
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