BBC sitcom Outnumbered will return to screens in 2024 with a new Christmas special.
Actors Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner will reprise their roles as Pete and Sue Brockman for the one-off episode, with Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez back as their now grown-up children Jake, Ben, and Karen.
It marks eight years since the Brockmans were last on screens, with the cast previously returning for a Christmas special in 2016, two years after the show came to an end. The 2024 special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.
Related: Outnumbered child stars reunite for special project
“In a moment of adversity, Sue and Pete gather all their offspring (including one grandchild) to try and celebrate a traditional family Christmas,” teases the episode synopsis. “But fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services get in their way.”
Comedian Hugh Dennis said he “can’t wait” for his on-screen family to get back together again.
Giving further context to the Brockmans’ current setup since audiences last saw them on screen, he teased: “Pete and Sue have downsized, the children are no longer children, but I’m sure family life will prove to be just as chaotic as ever.”
Related: Outnumbered star joins cast of Sam Heughan’s new thriller series
Actor Claire Skinner equally shared her excitement at returning for another instalment, saying: “Working on this wonderful BBC comedy doesn’t feel like work and is one of the greatest joys for us all.”
As well as playing on-screen couple Pete and Sue, Skinner and Dennis are a couple in real-life, confirming that they started dating after filming the 2016 special.
This year’s Christmas special has been written by the show’s creators Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, who will also both direct the 40-minute episode.
Outnumbered‘s 2024 Christmas special will air over Christmas on BBC One and iPlayer.
Deputy News Editor, Digital Spy
Emily is an experienced entertainment writer and editor, reporting on all things TV, film, soaps and showbiz. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, with a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Sussex, Emily has previously worked at Hello magazine, BBC South News and GoodtoKnow. She joined Digital Spy as Acting Deputy News Editor in May 2023, and became Deputy News Editor the following year.
A small and big-screen obsessive – with subscriptions to every TV and film service under the sun – Emily knows her movie stars from soap stars, and is always clued up on the latest reality show dumping, just-dropped trailer or off-screen spat. She’s interviewed a number of celebrities over the years, with highlights including The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and GMB‘s Kate Garraway (who “loved” her trousers).
Emily counts Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis as her TV heroes, and is a loyal Wes Anderson fan. LinkedIn