Not Going Out delivered in a deadpan manner. This is the comedy style Lee Mack and Tim Vine have used both in stand-up and in "The Sketch Show", to the extent that an occasional one-liner from their solo performances is slipped in. This is mostly one sided with Kate/Lucy typically being the victims of the joke. Sight gags are also frequently used, while gags and witticisms are incorporated into almost every line of script. For the first series, episodes were written by Mack and Andrew Collins, with members of the cast credited for additional material. Because the eight episodes of the second season
Not Going Out are in touch with Lucy's parents, Geoffrey and Wendy, and with Lee's feckless father, Frank. Most of each episode were shot on set in front of an audience at Teddington Studios. There are two main sets: the flat and the bar that Lee frequently visits. Outdoor shots and real indoor location shots have also been used on occasion. The fourth and fifth series were shot at the BBC Television Centre. The sixth and seventh series saw filming return to Teddington Studios. From Series 5 onwards, "Not Going Out" was produced in association with Lee Mack's own company, Arlo Productions (named