Outnumbered is a British sitcom created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin and produced by Hat Trick Productions about a mother and father who are outnumbered by their three unruly children. Although there is a script, the show is also semi-improvised.
The series premiered in the UK on BBC One on 28 August, 2007.
Outnumbered originally premiered in South Africa on M-Net on Sunday 1 February 2009, at 17h00. It later aired on DStv's BBC Entertainment channel. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 4 premiered on BBC Entertainment on Sunday 10 June 2012, at 21h45. New episodes broadcast in a double bill, weekly. There are six episodes in the fourth season.
Synopsis
Outnumbered is comedy about two parents and three young children, locked in an unequal contest.
It is a portrayal of the well-meaning parental incompetence that happens in most homes, as a beleaguered Mum and Dad attempt to raise their kids with the minimum of emotional damage for all concerned.
Three children are: Karen, a regal five-year-old girl with a talent for interrogation; seven-year-old Ben, who could out-fib Jeffrey Archer; and eleven-year-old Jake who is gearing up for his scary first day at secondary school.
The parents are played by Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis. The Dad works in an inner city school, where a typical school holidays sees five arrested, two pregnant and one pupil shot.
Meanwhile, Mum is a part-time PA with a very demanding boss.
Other topics explored in the part-improvised show include: racism, child abuse, new age weirdness, weak bladders, death and heaven, bird 'flu, contagious diseases, bullying, obesity, parental competition, attempting romantic nights in, divorce, journalism, running away, atoms, underage drinking, gin, corn-fed organic chickens, Nazis and ratbags.
Seasons
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 1 Feb 2009 | Finale: 8 Mar 2009 | Sun, 17h00
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 25 Feb 2010 | Finale: 1 Apr 2010 | Thurs, 20h30
Season 2 (7 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 19 Aug 2010 | Finale: 30 Sep 2010 | Thurs, 20h30
Christmas Special
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Aired: 26 December 2010 | Sunday, 19h15
Season 3 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 29 Apr 2012 | Finale: 3 Jun 2012 | Sundays, 21h25
Season 4 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 10 Jun 2012 | Finale: 24 Jun 2012 | Sundays, 21h45