Outnumbered stars distributed: earn more or quit while ahead?

Five seasons, critical acclaim and awards followed. Now, this year the family is back again for a Christmas special on Boxing Day – but is it really just a one-off?

After all, this year’s program also boasts a Gavin & Stacey special, which itself follows an apparently standalone, decade-long celebratory episode in 2019.

So could this year’s Outnumbered follow in their footsteps and create just another return for the Brockmans?

In the new Christmas edition of Radio Timesstar Hugh Dennis weighs in, suggesting that the experience of reuniting for the special has “made me hope that maybe we’ll do more… but maybe we should quit while we’re ahead”.

And in another interview, co-star Claire Skinner was even more emphatic. “I think it’s a one-time catch-up,” she tells me RT.

But when RT caught up with the three “kids” in the family – played by Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez – they were more open to the idea.

“I mean personally, yeah, I definitely would be,” says Drew-Honey, 28, who plays eldest son Jake. RT. “I know there’s often a bit of a question, like, are you dragging something out for the sake of it, just so some people can make some money?

“But if they approached us about another series, I certainly wouldn’t say absolutely no. I would chat directly to these two and say, ‘What do you think?’ I mean, in theory, I’m very keen.”

“I feel like it could work,” adds Marquez, 22, who plays youngest child Karen. “There is still good chemistry between us.

“It’s hard with Outnumbered because it was a show about what it’s like to have a family with young kids. And of course, as we got older, it’s not quite the same show.

“But I still enjoy seeing things as they change and evolve and move on. And I think occasional specials would be a really fun way to get a little insight into it without it being too drawn out .”

“I’m kind of in the same position, to be honest,” says Roche, 25, who plays middle child Ben.

“I think I would approach some of it with a similar attitude to how I approached this particular specialty, which is kind of…anxious curiosity. As in, of course, it’s a wonderful opportunity to be back and hanging out with everyone.And I love it But there is, as Tyger says, this fear of dragging things out too long.

“But then, as I did in this special, and as I would do if a question came up about a future special, I put my trust in Andy and Guy.

“The day they emailed the script over (for this special), I read it right away and I was like, ‘Yeah, I think they’ve done this perfectly.’ As much as I’m no longer a caricature of an eight-year-old running around, I felt like my character was kind of a realistic continuation of Ben in his early 20s.

“You know, he still has some of the same traits, but in a way that you would expect from a young adult.

“I am of course aware of the risks you run by continuing a show for too long – but I have a lot of faith in the writing and directing team.”

In other words, it’s all down to Jenkin and Hamilton – so what’s their take on Outnumbered’s future? Well, talking to RT for a previous issue of the magazine, the duo told us there were no immediate plans.

“We haven’t really thought about it. I know that sounds like a really rude answer, but we’re just living in the moment,” says Hamilton.

“We might get another idea and think ‘now is the time,'” Jenkin adds. “But we wanted to make this a really special event. After waiting eight years, hopefully everyone will be very curious to see where this family they grew up with has ended up.”

However, they are not ruling anything out either – in Jenkins’ own words: “You can hold this against us when we come back next year!”

So if not the end, this new special is certainly not a brand new beginning either. For now, fans would do well to appreciate the family reunion they’re getting… but never say never.

Read our full interview with the cast of Outnumbered in the Christmas double issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

Read more:

The Outnumbered Christmas special will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday 26 December at 21:40.

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