Victoria Beckham famously had a viral moment in husband David’s 2023 Netflix show when she claimed to have been raised a ‘working-class girl’ before he reminded her she was driven to school in a Rolls-Royce. 

And now it looks like Coleen Rooney, 40, is about to have her own viral moment in her new Disney reality documentary, The Real Rooneys, which airs on Thursday. 

In a hilarious new two-and-a-half minute clip, released on Wednesday, Coleen talked about how things are going after Wayne was sacked as football manager for Plymouth Argyle back in 2024. 

This changed in lifestyle has freed Coleen to embrace the biggest opportunities of her career, including designing her own Primark range and appearing in I’m A Celebrity two years ago.

‘It’s nice, just having time for me,’ she said in the new clip, as her son Cass, eight, screams, ‘MUM’ in a comically-timed moment. 

He asked her what’s for dinner and Coleen shouted back: ‘Spaghetti bolognese’, before questioning why he didn’t think to ask his dad first and laughing. 

The mum-of-four shouted back at Cass: ‘Spaghetti bolognese’, before questioning why her youngest son didn’t think to ask his dad Wayne first

The clip proves Wayne is just like one of the kids as he chomped on a packet of Haribo sweets and said: ‘Does anyone like the eggs in these? I used to put the rings on when I was younger’

Wayne also encouraged his boys to destroy the lawn by doing doughnuts in buggies and telling them he will blame them when their mum finds out what has gone on

During the clip, Coleen, Wayne and their ‘wild’ four sons,  Kai, 16, Klay, 13, Kit, 10, and Cass give a glimpse at their chaotic daily family life as they opened the doors to their ‘dream’ home in Cheshire. 

Coleen said: ‘Life’s been turned on its head,’ while talking about Wayne’s sacking. 

His former team suffered a run of nine defeats in 15 games in 2024 during his seven-month tenure.

The upcoming 10-episode documentary series covers a pivotal year in the Rooney household, as Wayne steps away from football management, swapping the touchline for school runs.

The clip proves Wayne is just like one of the kids as he chomped on a packet of mixed Haribo sweets and said: ‘Does anyone like the eggs in these? I used to put the rings on when I was younger,’ as he placed one on his finger. 

He also encourages his boys to destroy the lawn by doing doughnuts in buggies and telling them he will blame them when their mum finds out what has gone on. 

It’s clear that Coleen is the sensible one in the family.  

Talking about their incredible Cheshire mansion, she said: ‘This house is everything I dreamed of as a little girl. You draw a house with a door in the middle and windows on both sides.’ 

Wayne then starts singing Blur song Country House as Coleen playfully rolls her eyes. 

Scooting across her lawn on her own scooter Coleen joked: ‘The only problem is, we’ve got to share it with our four boys.

Coleen has been embracing the biggest opportunities of her career, including designing her own Primark range and appearing on I’m A Celebrity, where she came second

It’s clear that she is the sensible one in the family and talking about their Cheshire mansion, she said: ‘This house is everything I dreamed of as a little girl’

Wayne was sacked as football manager for Plymouth Argyle after a run of nine defeats in 15 games in 2024 after a seven-month stint and Coleen said: ‘Life’s been turned on its head’ 

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Scooting across her lawn, Coleen said: ‘The only problem is, we’ve got to share [our dream home] with our four boys’

With unprecedented access, the series follows the family through the highs and lows of married life, raising four lively boys, and supporting eldest son Kai as he pursues his own footballing dream

Victoria Beckham famously had her own viral moment in husband David’s 2023 Netflix show when she claimed to have been raised a ‘working-class girl’ before he reminded her she was driven to school in a Rolls-Royce

She then added: ‘My priority has always been the kids, however, since the court case, [against Rebekah Vardy] and then the jungle, the boys have been proud of their dad for so long. It’s my turn now. It’s opened a lot of doors.’ 

Then speaking about her Primark collaboration, Coleen said: ‘I’ve put my name to this range. The nerves are setting in,’ before the zip on her leather skirt breaks. 

‘But I’m not the only one, whose life has been turned on its head,’ she said. 

‘Was it always part of the plan?’ Wayne is asked. 

‘Yeah, we spoke about her doing more work, but not about me getting sacked,’ he giggled. 

With unprecedented access, the series follows the family through the highs and lows of married life, raising four lively boys, and supporting eldest son Kai as he pursues his own footballing dream. 

Along the way come surprising personal revelations, career-defining moments, lavish celebrations and unforgettable family holidays. 

From their Cheshire home to the beaches of Barbados, Disneyland Paris and the snowy Alps, this is Britain’s most famous and private family as never seen before: warm, funny and authentic. 

Viewers will be able to stream episodes 1-8 exclusively on Disney+ on September 24, with two special episodes available to stream on October 1. 

Top Simba Sleep discount codes and offers

If you’re looking to upgrade your mattress or replace your bedding ready for the colder months, we’ve found the latest Simba Sleep discount codes to help cut the cost of your next order.

Our deals experts verify and update our Simba Sleep offers daily, hand-testing each code and removing any expired promotions. This page is also refreshed regularly with the latest saving tips, to help you secure top deals.

Read more: Best mattresses, tested by a team of experts

Today’s best Simba Sleep deal

Right now, Simba Sleep’s refurbished mattress section is the best place to look for savings. Prices for hybrid mattresses start at £219, offering an affordable way to try Simba’s premium sleep technology.

Each mattress is professionally cleaned, inspected and quality-checked before being resold. All the refurbished mattresses are covered by Simba’s one-year guarantee and offer a 30-night trial.

If you want to buy new, students and keyworkers can get up to 26 per cent off Simba products, including bedding and mattresses. To unlock this saving, all you need to do is verify your eligibility through the Simba Sleep website.

Best Simba Sleep deals and ways to save

Using a Simba voucher code is an easy way to knock money off your total. However, these aren’t always available, so we’ve found all the ways you can save on your next Simba order.

Simba mattress sales

Occasionally, Simba holds seasonal sales with up to 25 per cent off sleep essentials, including mattresses, pillows, duvets and bedding. You’ll usually see these limited-time promotions during key shopping periods such as Black Friday, January sales and bank holidays.

To make sure you never miss out on a sale, sign up to Simba’s newsletter or check this article for updates.

Simba Sleep refurbished mattresses

If saving money is more of a priority than free extras, consider Simba Sleep’s refurbished mattresses. These renewed mattresses are renovated with new materials and deep cleaned to hospital standards, according to Simba Sleep.

This is one of the best ways to save if no Simba voucher code is available to you. Plus, for extra peace of mind, your refurbished mattress is guaranteed for one year, with a full replacement sent should anything go wrong and the fault meet the brand’s replacement criteria.

Simba Sleep student and keyworker discount

Simba Sleep offers a 26 per cent discount for keyworkers, students and charity workers. All you need to do is verify your eligibility, and you’ll receive exclusive promo codes to use on your next purchase.

Individuals who qualify for this discount include:

Simba Sleep refer a friend scheme

You and a friend can benefit from Simba’s referral scheme, with two free AeroDown pillows for you and two for your friend when they make their first purchase with Simba. Simply register using your email address to get your referral link and start sharing.

Remember that your friend must make their purchase through your referral link for the saving to work. The offer also only applies to orders of more than £300.

Free delivery on Simba Sleep orders

Simba offers free delivery to most UK postcodes. Depending on your order, this may be a one-person delivery to your door or a two-person delivery to a room of your choice. Delivery is usually available next day but may take between three to five days during sale periods.

If you’d rather choose your delivery slot or need your mattress on a specific date, named-day delivery is available for £10. You can also add the mattress setup and responsible packaging removal service for another £10.

Best Simba mattresses tested by our IndyBest team

As part of our review of the best mattresses 2026, the IndyBest team has tested the Simba hybrid essential, hybrid pro and hybrid luxe mattresses. Based on our testing, we think the hybrid essential offers the best value for most sleepers, while the hybrid luxe is worth considering when heavily discounted during seasonal sales.

New Simba mattresses come with a 200-night trial and a 10-year guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test out your new mattress at home. Refurbished mattresses come with a 30-night trial and a one-year guarantee.

Why choose a Simba Sleep mattress?

Simba Sleep 200-night trial and free returns

Simba Sleep offers flexible delivery, long trial periods and generous guarantees, making it easier to buy with confidence.

Simba offers a generous 200-night and free returns, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide whether you’re happy with your new mattress and pillows.

Simba Sleep 10-year guarantee

Simba’s 10-year guarantee gives you peace of mind that if your product fails during that time, it will swap it for a brand-new one. Keep in mind this doesn’t cover ordinary wear and tear or soiled items. However, if it’s a fault such as cracked foam, a broken zip or significant dipping, you may be eligible for a swap.

Helpful FAQs

How do I redeem a Simba Sleep voucher code?

Once you have found the offer you want to use, click the “see code” button to reveal the voucher code and copy it. You will then be redirected automatically to the Simba Sleep homepage, or you can head back to your shopping cart in another tab. When you continue to checkout, you will see a designated “discount code” box – paste your code here and click “apply”.

How can I save with Simba Sleep’s referral programme?

Right now, if you refer a friend to Simba Sleep, you’ll both receive two AeroDown pillows for free when they make a qualifying purchase.

Does Simba offer free returns?

Yes, with Simba’s 200-night trial period, you can return the mattress for free if you decide it isn’t right for you.

Is there a Simba student discount?

Simba Sleep offers a sitewide discount of up to 26 per cent for students and young people aged 18-25. To get this offer, you just need to verify your student status or age through the Simba Sleep website.

Can I combine Simba Sleep promo codes?

You can only apply one Simba Sleep promo code per order, but these can often be stacked with on-site sales. Remember to check the terms and conditions of the code to ensure sale items aren’t excluded.

Does Simba Sleep have sales?

Simba Sleep occasionally runs seasonal sales and promotions. In the past, we’ve seen discounts of up to 25 per cent on bestselling products, including the brand’s popular hybrid mattresses. Along with money-off deals, Simba has also been known to offer freebies such as pillows and mattress protectors with selected orders.

Can I get an NHS discount for Simba Sleep?

Yes, Simba currently offers 26 per cent off everything for keyworkers, including NHS staff, social workers, military personnel, teachers and charity workers. All you need to do to unlock the discount is verify your eligibility on the Simba Sleep website.

How we source the best Simba deals

Deputy IndyBest editor Sabrina Sahota (along with The Independent’s team of deal-hunters) is dedicated to finding you the best savings. As Simba is an IndyBest tried-and-tested brand, we’re always on the hunt for ways to help you shop Simba Sleep products for less.

Our team of deal-hunters search online and through Simba Sleep’s own promotions to bring together the latest discount codes, sales and bundle offers in one place. We review and update this page each week to ensure our readers are getting the latest offers. We also hand-test each discount code and promotion daily, making sure to remove any expired offers and add new ones as they become available.

Why you can trust us

Here at The Independent, we’re dedicated to helping you shop savvily. We only bring you deals from brands that we love and trust, with tried-and-tested reviews on as many products as possible. To sift through dud deals out there, our team of deal-hunters uses their expertise to find the best savings on the best-sellers, trending products and worthy investments.

*Offers are updated daily by our in-house deals team. Check the Simba Sleep website to full terms and conditions of promotions and discounts

Has all this talk of sleep got you feeling cosy? Take a look at our guide to the best weighted blankets to ease stress and anxiety

The most sustainable smartphone is the one you currently own. An estimated 80% of your phone’s negative impact on the environment happens before the first minute of use – before it is even unboxed.

One smartphone contains more than 70 raw materials and more than 50 metals. Many of these need to be mined from the Earth. A standard 200g phone involves extracting resources from more than 200kg of raw materials. That’s equivalent to the weight of 200 standard bags of sugar, 100 bricks or one adult grizzly bear.

The mining of raw materials devastates landscapes, disrupts local water supplies and pollutes ecosystems. Entire communities in countries such as Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ecuador and Philippines have been displaced to make way for mining sites. Some countries ignore the child labour used in their mining and processing operations.

Many of your phone’s critical raw materials are only found in a handful of places. That means control over those materials matters both economically and politically, creating geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains, and competition for access. This can fuel conflict.

In short, behind the phone in your hand sits a story that involves environmental damage, pollution, human rights violation and dangerous geopolitics.

A recent survey of 6,000 adults in six countries (the UK, US, France, Germany, Spain and Japan) found that more than half could not name a single raw material in their smartphone. The survey, commissioned by Back Market (a global tech refurbishment company), found that only one in four people feel confident they know what goes into their phone. Seven in ten have never thought to investigate the origins of the device they use every day.

Awareness of the consequences of mining can influence consumers’ decisions. Seven in ten people surveyed said child labour would make them less likely to buy a new phone, while nearly two-thirds are interested in seeing how materials are extracted and processed.

To tackle this gap in awareness, Back Market collaborated with nine international experts, including me, to help build Mine My Phone. This open-access digital hub maps global extraction sites and connects them to the ten key metals inside smartphones: cobalt, lithium, tantalum, gallium, graphite, gold, tin, copper, indium and rare earth elements.

The rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals that include neodymium, cerium and lanthanum. They are common in the Earth’s crust but usually found in small concentrations – only deposits with 5% weight of the metals are financially viable at the moment.

You can use this map to trace your phone’s materials back to their sources. Content can be filtered by type of impact (such as environmental, human or geopolitical), and there are also expert interviews and investigative reports into the conditions found at mining sites around the world.

The metallic element cobalt is an essential component of almost all mobile phone batteries, for example. Some of the cobalt in your phone could have been mined by children as young as six.

Extracting cobalt relies on two very different methods: industrial open-pit mines, which use heavy machinery to break through the earth and pull up the minerals, and artisanal mines, where workers dig by hand with crude tools, with little protective equipment.

À lire aussi :
‘We miners die a lot.’ Appalling conditions and poverty wages: the lives of cobalt miners in the DRC

DRC possesses 50% of the world’s cobalt reserves, and most of what is mined gets shipped to China. There, more than 75% of the global supply of cobalt is refined into pure cobalt, to be used in mobile phones or electric vehicle batteries.

As the richest deposits are used up, production of pure cobalt is expected to start falling after 2030. By 2040, the world’s demand could fall short by around 50,000 tonnes each year.

The future of smartphones

Mine My Phone aims to empower consumers so they can lobby governments all over the world to regulate the technology industry – so that smartphones are built to be upgradable, repairable, re-usable and recyclable.

The smartphone industry needs to change. While some companies are already building new profit models, such as Dutch company Fairphone’s modular designs, the industry’s big players are yet to engage.

Cars last between 12 and 28 years. Smartphones should last for at least ten years.

To avoid unnecessary waste, phones need to be upgradable. In terms of technology, we should be able to put in faster processors or better cameras. When it comes to software, we need guaranteed support for phones for at least ten years.

Phones need to be repairable so that cracked screens, broken electronics and failing batteries can all be replaced easily. More phones could be made to be reusable, just like used cars.

By designing smartphones that are easier to recycle, all their valuable raw materials can be extracted and re-used, rather than typically ending up in landfill in a developing country. Every gram of metal recovered is one less kilogram of rock that has to be dug up.

By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER

Published: 11:49 BST, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 11:55 BST, 23 September 2026

Keely Hodgkinson will be banned from wearing her all-black Nike catsuit at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 due to Team GB‘s sponsorship rules.

The reigning 800-metre Olympic champion donned the ensemble, which pulled over her head and covered her in the sleek material from palms to ankles – except for her almost entirely bare back – for the first time at Athlos in London last week.

She crossed the finish line in one minute 56.40 seconds to mark Athlos’ debut on the international stage with a commanding win.

The one-of-a-kind super suit, which seemingly takes inspiration from Cathy Freeman’s iconic Sydney 2000 number, was engineered by Nike specifically for Hodgkinson.

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When asked if she and all her competitors will be wearing the style in LA in two years’ time, Hodgkinson gave an answer that suggested it could be a possibility.

‘We might know some things that people don’t,’ the track star said. ‘It was a test out there. This is not something we haven’t seen before.’

Keely Hodgkinson will not be allowed to wear her all-black Nike catsuit at the Olympics in 2028

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Hodgkinson wore the suit for the first time at Athlos in London last week and won the 800m

However, unless Nike’s biggest rival, Adidas, knocks up a bespoke version for Hodgkinson ahead of the Games in the United States, then the 24-year-old will not be able to wear such a suit to defend her title.

This is due to Team GB’s longstanding partnership with the German sportswear manufacturer, which spans back to the last Olympics that was held in LA, 42 years ago.

British athletes are required to wear the team racing kit, which is designed by Adidas, when competing for the nation at the Games. ‘Technical’ kit, such as running spikes, are an exception to the rule.

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If Nike does roll out the full-body ‘Zero-Distraction Speed Suit’ to its other athletes, and World Athletics ratifies it for use at the Olympics, then Hodgkinson may indeed watch her competitors take to the track in the eye-catching black catsuit she brought back to life. But she wouldn’t be able to race them in it.

Team GB and Adidas are expected to continue their partnership at the famous multi-sport event in 2028.

A Team GB spokesperson said: ‘Supported by our partners and in tandem with our sports, we have always worked to provide athlete-centred and innovative kit that supports our teams to perform at their best at both the Summer and Winter Games.

Hodgkinson will once again have to wear Team GB’s Adidas kit at the Games in two years

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‘We’re confident and excited about what’s ahead and the developments we’re working towards for future Games, including Los Angeles 2028.’

Hodgkinson admitted she was a ‘little nervous’ to walk out in the speedsuit, which was completed by iridescent spikes, but felt the all-female Athlos meet – where she secured £50,000 in prize money for her win – was the ideal place to debut the ensemble.   

Following her win, she said: ‘Cathy Freeman and some other athletes from a while ago did something like this, and this is the updated new version, with the new technology.

‘(Freeman) was before I was born, but I have seen the race and photos. It was really cool to draw inspiration from the past and make it your own as well. The style was a big thing for me.

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‘I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy, the back’s open and that makes it feel really cool. It feels like I’m wearing nothing to be honest. I trained in it in South Africa in 37-degree heat and it was OK.’

By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 10:50 BST, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 11:50 BST, 23 September 2026

A new Match of the Day-style football show on Disney fronted by Alex Scott has left fans raging after a bizarre debut show on Tuesday evening.

The streaming platform launched ‘The Hangout’, with former Football Focus presenter Scott leading a punditry team of former footballer Lianne Sanderson and influencers Tyra Mills and Alex Bailess.

The aim of the programme was to bring analysis and reaction to the new season of the Women’s Champions League, but it came under fire for a chaotic launch show.

A move to appeal to Gen Z viewers seems to have been made, with discussions about pasta and cucumbers front and centre of its debut episode.

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An influencer dog named Barley was also introduced, with the animal asked to pick the winner of the Champions League through food.

The show featured a ‘watch party’ with Dutch twins Sanne and Merel van Dongen, with Sanne a former basketball player and Merel a footballer.

Disney’s new Women’s Champions League show came under fire for its debut episode

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Fans criticised the chaotic approach to the show, which featured influencers including a dog

One particular clip saw Scott throw the coverage to the duo, and they asked: ‘Do you want some cucumber?’

Scott replied ‘no, a drink,’ and was told that she might ‘get a Coca-Cola’ if she ‘continued doing her work’.

She was then told the water they had could have been vodka, with Barley also present for the watch party.

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Fans were left in disbelief at what was unfolding on social media, with one writing: ‘Disney said they were a brand and ran with it. They thought a revolving sofa and dog would keep the attention of the girls whilst watching the football and stuck an ad mid game because no one’s really watching. You get comments about how empty the stadiums are but how are we growing the game if it’s still being dressed up with a pink bow on the top?

‘Then bored men with no club football will s**g it off because some football account is making fun of it.

‘If we like women’s football, we like it for the game, for the players, for their skill, our clubs. JUST like you would for a men’s game. Disney, the fans of women’s football do not need cute, we’d love impartial analysis, post-match interviews with the team that’s played and less dog.’

Another added: ‘Sorry the dog in the Disney studio for the UWCL coverage is finishing me like am I watching the coverage for the football or Crufts?’

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There was no explanation for why Barley was on the show, though his 137,000 Instagram followers were mentioned.

Barley the dog has 177,000 followers on Instagram but was left scared while on the show

Dutch twins Sanne and Merel van Dongen spoke about cucumber and alcohol on the show

The dog seemed scared by the rotating floor, which was used to move the punditry team from their spot for half-time analysis to the watch party. Barley ran off but was offered pretzels to return.

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The platform also came under fire for showing adverts during the action. One fan on social media posted: ‘Disney + just showing an advert mid champions league game is diabolical.’

Viewers were able to choose what game they wanted to watch, and a three-minute round of adverts was shown during the second-half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over HB Koge.

Daily Mail Sport understands the adverts shown during the action was not an intended interruption and instead was a technical difficulty and that there are no plans at present to make wholesale changes to the show.

Disney have had the rights to the competition for two years now, with The Hangout new for this year. Live from 5.30pm to 10.30pm, Scott will rotate presenting duties with Shebahn Aherne.

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Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, shared an adorable moment with a little girl who stopped to curtsy at her, and she’d clearly been practising the move for ages at home

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Kate Middleton shared an adorably tender moment with a fan – and people have been fawning over how cute it was. Many royal watchers also appreciated how graceful the Princess of Wales is as she gave time to the young girl.

Looking absolutely breathtaking in a deep plum, plunge-neckline, floor-length gown, Princess Kate can be seen rounding the corner towards some children who wanted to meet her. She’s beaming from ear to ear when she saw them both, as she made her way closer to them. The princess looked genuinely excited to meet her fans, and Prince William was also standing beaming by her side.

However, it was clearly the beautiful princess the little girls wanted to meet, as the first child she came to thrust her hand out excitedly to give something to her.

The little girl, who was dressed in a very sweet, formal dress, gave Princess Kate the gift, and then proceeded to curtsy in front of her – and it was clearly something she’d been practising in her bedroom for a very long time.

The royals had a chat with the little girl, and although the video didn’t quite capture what they were discussing, it was clear the youngster was awestruck.

People noticed that Princess Kate always gives people the time of day, no matter how young, because she just oozes kindness.

Next to her, was another little girl, patiently waiting for her turn to speak to the princess, and more importantly, to give her the flowers that she had brought for her.

Sharing the video on X, a woman wrote: “I cannot stop watching this beautiful moment. The little girl’s sweet curtsy, the flowers, and Catherine’s delighted reaction – it was absolutely precious.

“This is the magic of meeting a real-life princess. Catherine never rushes children – she makes them feel as though they are the most important person in the room. Absolutely beautiful.”

In the comments, people said how “cute” the little girls were. One wrote: “That little girl’s curtsy is absolutely adorable. I bet she practised that hundreds of times.”

Another said: “Immense joy watching these two little cutie pies! Such sweetness and what a fabulous curtsey! Their rehearsals were so lovely to watch, too! Look how happy these THREE Princesses are greeting each other. Their parents must be beaming with pride, cherishing these moments.”

Somebody else even pointed out that “purple is her colour” as she looked beautiful in the gown, and they shared more pictures of Princess Kate wearing this amazing shade in the past.

Not Going Out is the longest-running British sitcom currently on air, with 106 episodes – and counting – spanning two decades. 

Created by Lee Mack in 2006, the BBC show followed unambitious layabout Lee (Mack) and his best friend’s sister Lucy (Sally Bretton), who is also the landlady of his London flatshare.

A will-they-won’t-they romance between the two unfolded over several series, until the unlikely couple married in the season seven finale.

The eighth series then jumped eight years into the future, with all subsequent instalments following their chaotic family life with three children.

Now on its 15th season the series shows no signs of stopping and is celebrating its 20th anniversary. 

To mark the milestone, the cast and crew opened up about the show’s behind-the-scenes secrets in a one-off documentary, 20 Years Of Not Going Out, which also features classic clips, exclusive archive material and never‑before‑seen outtakes.

Lee revealed that in the unaired pilot, Catherine Tate took on the female lead but she dropped out to focus on her eponymous sketch show (pictured filming another pilot – The Smiths) 

Discussing the show, Lee mused: ‘After 20 years of Not Going Out we are delighted to finally give a warts and all peep behind the curtain of how it’s made. 

‘Thankfully we have hoovered behind that curtain, but unfortunately the warts have not cleared up.’

Speaking in the upcoming documentary, Lee explained the idea for Not Going Out first came from his 1999 sketch show, Lee Mack’s Bits, which he performed at Edinburgh Festival with Catherine Tate and Dan Antopolski. 

He revealed that during the writing process he came up with several jokes that didn’t work as skits, but he jotted them down with the hopes of one day using them in a show. 

That day came sooner than Lee imagined, and he was commissioned to develop a sitcom script for the BBC, creating a pilot that was never aired. 

Not Going Out has boasted a stellar rotating cast over the years, including Hugh Dennis, Miranda Hart, Timothy West, Bobby Ball, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant, Tim Vine, Geoffrey Whitehead and Katy Wix. 

Yet in that unaired pilot, it was Catherine Tate who took on the female lead, and she was selected to star in the series before she dropped out to focus on her eponymous sketch show.

Insisting that there were no hard feelings about her withdrawal, Lee mused: ‘Catherine was really successful and she wanted to do her own thing.’ 

However, he revealed that while Catherine’s involvement was fleeting, she had a lasting impact on the show, with her appearance resulting in changing the sitcom’s name from its working title, Number 17.  

‘A few people said to me they didn’t believe me and Catherine were a couple,’ Lee recalled. ‘So I said we’ll not being going out with each other, we’ll just be landlady and tenant. 

‘And there might be a spark of romance there but if people say “I don’t believe you’re a couple,” we can say “well, we’re not,”  hence the name, Not Going Out.’ 

While the name stuck, Catherine didn’t, and she was soon replaced by American actress Megan Dodds for the first series, with Sally then taking over as Lucy from series two onward.

Catherine was replaced by American actress Megan Dodds for the first series (pictured with Tim Vine and Lee) with Sally then taking over as Lucy from series two 

The format was changed by the departure of Tim Vine, with his decision to quit the show causing a fallout with Lee. Yet he was swiftly replaced by Hugh Dennis

Another star who quit the show after hitting the bigtime was Miranda Hart, who made an impression with her role as an acupuncturist in series one, so was brought back to play Barbara the cleaner for the next two seasons. 

Yet like Catherine, she too was offered her own programme, and left the series in 2009 to work on Miranda, making way for Katy Wix’s character, Daisy. 

By which point the series was a fan favourite and pulled in regular viewing figures between three and four million per episode. 

So Lee explained that he was left blindsided when the BBC suddenly cancelled the show halfway through season three.

The fans were also shocked, starting an online campaign and driving strong DVD sales until the Beeb reversed their decision, commissioning two more series nine months later. 

Yet while it was clear the public appetite for the show was still strong, Lee feared the show’s format was getting a bit stale. 

Lee mused: ‘If you fancy your landlady and you constantly want to tell her you like her but you haven’t got the confidence to do it, I think it’s mildly amusing in your early 30s.

‘But in your early 50s it suddenly becomes a bit creepy…’ 

The format had also been changed by the departure of Tim Vine, with his decision to quit the show causing a fallout with Lee. 

‘I fancied a change really and it’s not really a great reason perhaps,’ Tim mused.

‘But we’ve made up about it now, me and Lee. It came as a shock to the system when I first said it to him.’ 

Lee then explained he didn’t want to make a big fuss about Tim leaving so it didn’t alarm viewers, explaining why they wrote him out of the show with just one throwaway scene referencing his character had moved to Germany for work.  

Tim was then replaced by Hugh Dennis, who said it was presented to him as being the last series of Not Going Out, and that he had no clue the show would still be going. 

Yet Lee continued to play around with the format and series seven saw him make the decision to put an end to the will-they-won’t-they storyline. 

The Christmas special showed Lee finally confess his feelings for Lucy and the pair tying the knot, which Lee considered a fitting end to the show. 

Lee explained: ‘There was a possibility we’d get married and that would be the end of it – either the BBC didn’t want anymore of it, or I didn’t want to do anymore of it. 

‘At the end, they go off into the distance, just married on the back of the van, it could have been the end.’

While it was clear the public appetite for the show was still strong, Lee feared the show’s format was getting a bit stale so he decided to put an end to the will-they-won’t-they storyline and propel them into the future when they were married with children

Tragedy struck in 2020 when Bobby Ball, who played Lee’s father Frank, died. Lee revealed they filmed a funeral scene as tribute but it was deemed too sad to air so they scrapped it 

Instead of airing the episode they filmed a new, humorous tribute, in which Lee’s mother-in-law Wendy [Deborah Grant] painted an awful picture of him a year after the funeral

It was at this point that Lee was cast to appear with former co-star Catherine in a UK reboot of Everybody Loves Raymond, entitled The Smiths.  

‘I sort of realised you can’t do both, which one do you want to do?’ Lee recalled. ‘And I thought, why don’t I not do Everybody Loves Raymond and just do this and get it to become a family sitcom.

‘So we missed out the formative years but we showed the episode where the baby is born – then cut to seven years later.’ 

Co-star Sally shared: ‘He didn’t want to do any of the newlywed romance, he wanted to get straight to the aggravation.’ 

It’s a format that has allowed the show to continue. 

Yet tragedy struck in 2020 when Bobby Ball, who played Lee’s father Frank, died at the age of 76 after testing positive for Covid.

Reflecting on his passing affecting the show, Lee mused: ‘People often say the best comedy is a comedy that makes you laugh and makes you cry. 

‘That’s just not true, that’s the best comedy-drama. The best comedy is one that makes you laugh, that’s why it’s called a comedy. 

‘After Bobby died we did an episode where it was his funeral. We just couldn’t find a way of not making it really sad. 

‘So we said, “you know what, we’ve never done this before, let’s just drop the whole thing”.’ 

Instead of airing the episode they filmed a new, humorous tribute, in which Lee’s mother-in-law Wendy [Deborah Grant] painted an awful picture of him a year after the funeral.

Not Going Out is currently in its 15th season, making it Britain’s all-time second longest running sitcom behind Last of the Summer Wine. 

‘The idea of me doing it 20 years on from now, when I’d be 77, seems like insanity,’ Lee said. ‘But then it felt like that 20 years ago!

‘Not Going Out has highs and lows, hard work, good laughs, screaming and shouting, all sorts of emotions with it. But it’s the show I’m most proud of.’ 

20 Years Of Not Going Out airs Wednesday, September 23 at 9PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series 15 launch episode airs directly after at 9.30PM.

Picture a couple who retired a few years ago and have lived in the same house for 30 years, brought up their children in it, cleared the mortgage and paid every penny of tax they ever owed. They wish to downsize to be closer to the grandchildren, so freeing up their larger home for a growing family.

Unfortunately, the taxman wants thousands of pounds in stamp duty for the new home, which makes the cost of the move uneconomic. What’s more, next year the state pension rises above the income tax threshold for the first time, and every week brings a fresh rumour about what the Chancellor might take next: their savings, their pension pot, whatever they had hoped to pass on.

There are millions of people like them and on October 28 they will sit down to watch John Healey’s first Budget wondering how much more of their money Labour is going to take.

Mr Healey has been challenged again and again to rule out tax rises – and every time he has refused. That may be defensible in normal times, but after two Budgets in which Labour hiked taxes and with warning signs flashing across the economy, these are far from normal times.

While we are talking about more and more pensioners potentially having to file a tax return for the first time, are we really suggesting that in the final years of her life, Granny is going to have to wait in the queue for an HMRC phoneline?

This is classic Labour. At the last election they promised not to raise taxes on ‘working people’. Within months, Rachel Reeves had put a jobs tax on employers across the country and, as a result, payrolls have shrunk by more than 200,000 since Labour took office. Then came a tax on family farms, a tax on family businesses, VAT on school fees, and a ‘tourist tax’ on the seaside guesthouse.

The result is the highest tax burden since the Second World War, and for many in the Labour Party and their donors, it is still not enough. Every day, everyone from young people starting out to departing non-doms tell me they feel overtaxed.

Only yesterday senior financiers and chief executives in the City warned Andy Burnham that his rumoured plans to hike capital gains tax from 24 per cent to 45 per cent would be a huge drag on the success of investment.

Chancellor John Healey has been challenged again and again to rule out tax rises – and every time he has refused

And just last week Sky News obtained a 50-page dossier which had been drawn up for Keir Starmer this spring, mapping out the road to this October’s Budget. It admits there is ‘limited fiscal space to support living standards’, which roughly translates to: don’t expect the Budget to help you. Yet the same document finds room for ‘reforms to capital and property taxes’ and Andy Burnham has already lifted six of its other policies.

For Labour, ‘reform’ means increase. When the party ‘reformed’ agricultural relief in 2024, farmers got a tax on the family farm.

Property tax ‘reform’ could mean your council tax or the stamp duty on your next home going up. Capital gains tax ‘reform’ means taking more of your savings, and the Sky News dossier mentions pensions, too. It’s clear that while Labour has a new Prime Minister, the plan has stayed the same – and the plan means you are going to pay more.

All of this instead of getting a grip on a welfare bill that is out of control, with the latest figures – as the Daily Mail reported yesterday – showing one in five working-age adults is claiming universal credit. Almost a million young people are classified as ‘Neets’: not in work, education or training.

Yesterday’s revelation that the Treasury has borrowed £8.1billion more than expected this fiscal year proves that tax rises are inevitable. Without cutting back on welfare, Burnham will be forced to find more than £300million a day in repayments.

This is a scandal! Labour would rather tax the country to death than take the difficult decisions to get our economy out of the doldrums into which it has plunged it.

All the while, wealth creators are heading for the exit and the tax bill that’s left over lands on everyone else who is trying to get by.

So, as Shadow Chancellor, I challenge John Healey to rule out any new taxes – and I will keep making that challenge every day until the Budget. That means no higher rates and no new stealth taxes.

The dividing line on tax between Labour and Conservatives could not be clearer. In stark contrast with Labour, I will cut taxes in my first budget as Chancellor. Stamp duty on your home, the family farm and the family business death taxes will all be abolished. We will reverse the imposition of VAT on education and abolish business rates for thousands of High Street shops. All fully funded from fixing the out-of-control welfare spend and cutting back the size and cost of government.

Stamp duty is a tax on social mobility that keeps pensioners in homes too big for them and stops younger people moving to take a better job or to have children. The housing market is struggling as it is, so let’s unleash it from the chains of stamp duty and start stimulating growth in our economy.

That retired couple should be able to sell up, move closer to their grandchildren and keep what they have worked for. Under Labour they are taxed for moving, and kept guessing about everything else.

The simple truth is that Labour wants to raise taxes to pay for more benefits. The Conservatives will cut taxes, cut the welfare bill and let people keep more of their own money.

Far-right activist Daniel Thomas has been condemned by charities after footage showed him using a blade to slash a dinghy in the Channel while a rescue worker was onboard.

Thomas, who is known by the name Danny Tommo, filmed himself tracking two inflatable dinghies on Tuesday afternoon, which were carrying asylum seekers from France.

In the video clip, he can be seen approaching the dinghy, which is full of life jackets left by passengers, and using his blade to repeatedly stab holes in the side of the vessel.

He then shouts towards a rescue worker onboard, who is wearing an orange hi-vis outfit, to “get off” while escaping air from the dinghy can be audibly heard.

As he slashes the boat, Thomas can be heard shouting: “This is England. This is not France any more.”

After spotting the rescue worker, he says: “Get off the boat. You’ve got time to get off the boat.”

His boat then motors away, before the rescue worker can be seen climbing onto the larger emergency boat that was positioned next to the dinghy.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it was conducting inquiries into the incident.

Officers made six arrests for offences including assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass at a protest in Gosport on Tuesday night, following reports a dinghy with migrants on board was en route to the UK.

British rescue boats were sent to collect the passengers on the craft after they refused help from the French coastguard.

The French coastguard earlier said around 60 migrants on a small boat spent more than 33 hours at sea “in precarious conditions” and refused help as they were “determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom”.

It was expected the migrants would be taken to Gosport, leading to anti-migrant protesters gathering in the area. As a result, the vessel headed east along the coast, arriving in Dover after 12:30am on Wednesday morning.

Charities have condemned Thomas’s actions, with the Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants branding it “violent and dangerous”.

Stand Up to Racism posted on X: “Danny Tommo already has a conviction for knife crime. The footage of him going wild with a knife and slashing a boat with [an emergency worker] on it in the Channel today is disgusting.”

Thomas – founder of anti-migration group Patriot Platform and an associate of political activist Tommy Robinson – was a leader of recent protests in Portsmouth and organised demonstrations in Dover. He regularly livestreams his actions to his followers.

In 2016, it was reported that he was jailed for two years after being convicted of attempted kidnapping. Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Thomas and two accomplices went “mob-handed” to the victim’s home armed with knives after wrongly accusing him of stealing drugs.

UK authorities are understood to have plans to deal with small boat arrivals further along the coast.

Some 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,011 since Andy Burnham became prime minister.

The total so far for 2026 is down 46 per cent on the same point last year.

A government spokesperson said: “The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival.”

A tiny Suffolk village is to hold a crunch meeting within days to ask residents whether it should launch a Piddington-style independence referendum in protest at government plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers at a nearby military base.

A delegation from Barnham travelled to the trailblazing Oxfordshire village last night to learn from the high-profile poll there that garnered international attention.

The five-strong team, led by parish council chairman John Bauer, have now decided to hold a special parish meeting within a fortnight to discuss holding an in/out vote and other measures it can use to highlight its plight.

The urgency is due to the speed at which Labour is trying to push the scheme through as it tries to move migrants from expensive hotels.

Details only emerged in June and a decision is expected this autumn, with asylum seekers potentially moving in by Christmas.

Mr Bauer told the Daily Mail: ‘The whole exercise is because people in Barnham and Piddington feel that the democratic process, as far as the asylum seekers accommodation process is concerned, just wasn’t working.

‘When we heard about it, it was quite shocking because we were being asked about something that hadn’t yet been passed on to us by the Government.

‘We knew nothing, the district council knew nothing, the county council knew nothing and the MPs knew nothing. That is not how the democratic process should work.’

The delegation to Piddington included another parish councillor, Conservative district councillor Andrew Smith, who is chairman of its development control committee, and two villagers who will be able to devote significant personal time to setting up a referendum or other measures.

‘We will be putting a proposal to them [villagers] which could well include a referendum and if there’s an appetite for that. If there is then a yes, we will go ahead,’ Mr Bauer said.

The meeting will have Piddington Parish Council chairman Tim McNally as a guest to explain his community’s approach to plans for asylum seekers’ accommodation in his area.

It is also expected to launch a ‘skills audit’ similar to one carried out in Piddington which identified what expertise individuals can bring to the resistance.

Mr Bauer, 66, said: ‘I don’t think the Government are listening to us. The fact they’ve taken this very high-handed route without even informing their MPs and they’re using the urgent Crown Development route [where applications are decided by the Secretary of State] to get it through with indecent haste I think means they aren’t listening.

‘But something like the referendum that Piddington has given them pause for thought.’

The village, which only learned of the plans in June, is considering a Piddington-style independence referendum

The vote in Piddington earlier this month over Home Office plans for MoD Bicester saw 90 per cent of locals opt to secede from the UK.

Barnham, which has around 580 residents, would see the population more than double if the plan to accommodate asylum seekers is given the go-ahead.

This ratio could be even greater after details of a private meeting between Home Office officials and councillors in Norfolk, which borders RAF Barnham, were leaked in which the Government department admitted ‘a lot more’ migrants could be housed at the facilities than had been admitted.

The village has a hall, church and primary school but no other amenities such as a shop or pub where migrants – who will be able to come and go from the base as they please – will be able to spend time.

Protests have taken place outside RAF Barnham since the controversial plans for the base, as well as the one in Bicester and a third site in Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, were announced three months ago.

Violent disorder also broke out over several nights two miles away from Barnham in Thetford, Norfolk, last month, after it emerged the Home Office was looking to quadruple the number of asylum seekers placed in private accommodation.

Until now, Barnham has relied on an ‘evidential’ approach involving planning issues such as environmental concerns.

Protesters gather outside RAF Barnham in July

The base was once used to store nuclear and chemical weapons and there are concerns the land could be contaminated.

The site is also a nesting ground for stone curlews, a species of bird so endangered that any development within 1,500m is forbidden.

Locals were vocal in their opposition to the Home Office’s plans at Barnham’s last parish council meeting.

Mother-of-two Collette Skelly, 58, who has lived in the village for 15 years and was at the meeting, said: ‘It’s a good way of raising publicity.

‘At the moment, there is nothing on the news about Barnham. So Piddington had to do it as a publicity stunt to raise attention.’

A man in his 60s added: ‘It’s on the news, they’re questioning the Prime Minister about Piddington today, so it’s working, isn’t it. I’d absolutely support it.’

Adrian Whittle, the leader of Reform UK at West Suffolk Council, declared he would support the village’s right to hold a referendum.

‘It raises the profile that people haven’t just given up, they want their country back, they want their lives back,’ he said.

An aerial view of part of the base at MoD Bicester

Some were concerned that it would become a distraction from the formal planning approach to blocking the scheme.

James Hollins said: ‘The referendum is rubbish, it can’t go anywhere, it’s got no legal standing.

‘We can demonstrate but they’re not going to listen.’

Announcing the referendum result on Wednesday last week, Piddington Parish Council chairman Mr McNally said: ‘We have given a message to the world.’

Vice-chair Susannah Parden added: ‘We are Piddington, the village that roars.’

Tory home affairs spokesman Chris Philp said the vote should be a ‘wake-up call’ for the government.