Not Going Out

- Season 8

(2017)

Lee and Lucy are now married with three young children, Molly, Benji and Charlie, but Lucy's unwillingness to leave the children with strangers means the couple have no social life and they argue when she forgets their wedding anniversary.. When her parents agree to baby-sit it allows for a romantic evening which unfortunately ends in an argument though a little role play manages to restore the romance.

Anna gives Lucy two tickets for the ballet but she is stuck for a baby-sitter so Lee asks his father frank to oblige, despite Lucy's objections, given Frank's drinking habit. However he turns out to be very efficient so they engage him again. Unfortunately he seem to have taught the children swear words so Lucy dispenses with his services even though he swears his innocence. A stand-off with Lucy's parents exonerates Frank and puts Geoffrey in a bad light, pushing Lucy into deciding who she wants to baby-sit in future.

The family sets out to drive to France for a wedding but the children's whining and car-sickness and a traffic jam are doing nothing for Lee's nerves. Lucy is questioning whether the bikes on the roof-rack contravene height rules and George at the ferries' call centre confirms this. With the car reaching Dover at the last possible minute for the deadline only Lucy's skill at improvisation can get the family on board in time for the crossing.

Lee and Lucy play hot tub fantasy date with Anna and Toby, causing them to end up in hot water.

Lee and Lucy are called in by their 7-year old son Charlie's teacher who complains of his disruptive behaviour in class . Lucy defends him but Lee is concerned the child may end up like him, likewise the class clown, and a chat with Charlie reveals that he is trying to impress a little girl in his form. His improved behaviour allows him to enter a story he has written into a competition judged by a visiting children's author Johnny Lucas. And after a meeting with Lucas, Lee knows exactly how his son can impress the visitor.

When Lee complains about Lucy's idolizing her parents' 'perfect' marriage Anna suggests Lucy takes him to marriage guidance, which has helped her and Toby. Lee is sceptical but accompanies Lucy to see a counsellor but his flippant comments only serve to make him feel guilty. So he agrees to cooking a special meal for in-laws Geoffrey and Wendy but Geoffrey is suspicious of such kindness, a situation which ultimately reveals that he and Wendy themselves needed to see marriage guidance after he had had an affair. Following this admission Lee remains triumphant.

Lee is feeling broody but Lucy is not keen for another child so Toby advises Lee to apply reverse psychology, suggesting that he goes along with her wishes - which works until Anna puts Lucy wise to Lee's tactics. This leads to Lucy calling Lee's bluff and suggesting a vasectomy, which Toby endorses, having had one himself. Ultimately Lee and Lucy eschew their friends' advice and make their own decisions.

It's Christmas Eve, and Lee and Lucy face a possible Christmas disaster when they discover the perfect present they have bought for their children has already been gifted to them by their grandparents.