'Not Going Out' creator Lee Mack says the studio sitcom is "worth protecting".
Lee Mack bashed critics for labelling Not Going Out 'old-fashioned'
The 55-year-old comedian has written and starred in the BBC comedy series since 2006, but the show has received criticism for being old fashioned.
Lee insists he's proud that his show is compared to the classic sitcoms from the 1970s and he insists the format is "uniquely British thing" that should be cherished.
Speaking at a screening of the upcoming 'Not Going Out' Christmas special - which will be the programme's 100th episode - he said: "It's a very unique thing, the studio sitcom and I think it's worth protecting, it's important to keep it going.
"It’s almost uniquely British thing. I know the Americans do it. But the way we do it is uniquely British, so I like the idea of trying to keep that going. But I'm also very lucky that it's very unfashionable, because no younger, up-and-coming comic is trying to take my place…
"The critics often say, 'Is this type of sitcom from the '70s?' That's an odd thing to say because if you ask people to list their favourite sitcoms ever, they’re all from the '70s – 'Fawlty Towers', 'Dad's Army', 'Steptoe And Son'.
"The critics are basically saying 'Not Going Out' is too much like all of those brilliant shows!"
Lee also cannot understand why 'Not Going Out' is lambasted for including laughter from the studio audience who watch it being filmed.
He added: "When some critics say and they often do, 'Do we still need to hear people laughing in the background?' I always think, 'how do they cope when they're watching a play?' Are they constantly going 'shush, stop laughing at this comedy, I’m trying to watch this.’
"That’s the joy of it! We’re filming a live theatrical event… I like the idea that you’re filming something that's happening on that night. And that's what I think is different. I’m the first say we're not a realistic sitcom, the language is not realistic. So without the laugh, it just sounds odd, because all the characters are quite often knowingly telling a gag. To have that to absolute silence would be weird. You need that laugh constantly for it to make sense."
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