Tim Vine is Going Out as He Leaves Sitcom

In the same week that the fifth series of hit BBC sitcom ‘Not Going Out’ came to an end, gaining an impressive 4.69m viewers for its final episode in such a competitive environment, and Den of Geek running an article on how it is one of the best shows on television - http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/not-going-out/21369/not-going-out-an-appreciation - a rumour circulating before series four has now been confirmed as true.

Tim Vine quits 'Not Going Out' after six years? - http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a382313/tim-vine-quits-not-going-out-after-six-years.html

Sitcom in chaos as Vine quits - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4323718/Chaos-for-BBC1-comedy-Not-Going-Out-as-Tim-Vine-quits.html

Yes, Tim Vine has announced he has quit ‘Not Going Out’ as the BBC announces two more series have been commissioned.

Though ‘sitcom in chaos’ may be an overstatement – ‘Not Going Out’ has survived the departure of Megan Dobbs and Miranda Hart – both replaced with Sally Bretton and Katy Wix respectively – but neither was as key a character as Tim, played by Vine. In Dobbs case she was only in for one series and before it really hit the big time and Hart only a supporting character and has been replaced, and bettered, by Katy Wix. Tim, the mild-mannered innocent foil to Lee (Tim Mack), is much more central to the premise, even more so than the will-they won’t-they relationship between Lee and Lucy. He is the perfect complement to Lee’s more rowdy humour, much more innocent in style and though Vine has no writing credit to the series, his style of puns and one liners is clear in the series and his presence is undoubted in the sitcom.

The BBC have promised new characters in the sitcom when it returns next year for a sixth series but I feel they will have a difficult job replacing Vine. It’s not an impossible task. Lee Mack is a strong writer and it can be argued that the series now is even better than it was at the start, but it has evolved. However, Mack and Vine have a great working relationship and work well off each other and if Vine goes then that dynamic will be missing. Furthermore, how will Katy Wix as Daisy, Tim’s ditsy girlfriend, be kept in the series? Also, the humour of Tim being wary of Lee’s advances on his sisters, will be absent.

Vine has said “He’s got lots of other work coming in and is keen to try other things” and I don’t blame him for wanting to be known for other things opposed to his stand up and his sitcom but it upsets me – perhaps not the right word when discussing a television sitcom – that when the series has survived cancellation and now gone on to do not only another two series in the can but another two series on top of that and it’s stronger than it’s ever been in popularity and ratings that it’s losing a key element.

I love ‘Not Going Out’. It’s not only one of my favourite programmes and a fantastic, consistent sitcom, it’s one of the few shows on television that I wouldn’t want to miss. I have every faith that Lee Mack well make another cracking series of the show but I can’t help feeling that Tim Vine, who is such a talented comedian both in stand up and in the show, is making a mistake in leaving the sitcom. I’m all for trying new things and not being stereotyped but he’ll be sadly missed and I think it’ll be a major stumble point for the series.

I only hope that he’ll come back for the start of series six to at least make a proper exit and what he goes onto do justifies his exit. He’s a great performer but equally Mack, I believe, will continue to make a fantastic sitcom.

Oh, and if the BBC are after someone younger who can replace Tim but see fulfil the cheesy puns and the sort of innocent-looking humour, then they can always e-mail me. My rates are reasonable.