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
Going Out with Alan Carr night, and the show also contained live music from Mika. On Christmas Eve 2009 and again in 2010, a special show entitled 'Alan Carr's Office Party' was broadcast, containing festive music and discussions. On occasions when either presenter was unavailable, comedian Patrick Kielty and Gaby Roslin stood in respectively. When both Carr and Forbes were unavailable, Kielty and Roslin presented together, with the show renamed "Going Out With Patrick and Gaby". Other famous faces to stand in on the show include former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm, television presenters Kate Thornton and Penny Smith, talent show winner Jodie Prenger and comedian