BBC Outnumbered boss hasn't ruled out creating more episodes after Christmas special

Andy Hamilton hasn't ruled out creating more 'Outnumbered' episodes after the upcoming Christmas special.

The 70-year-old co-creator of the award-winning BBC One sitcom - which follows the chaotic life of the Brockman family - will show audiences on Boxing Day how the family dynamic has changed now the kids - Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey), Ben (Daniel Roche) and Karen (Ramona Marquez) - have moved away from mum Sue (Claire Skinner) and Pete (Hugh Dennis).

However, Andy has remained coy about the possibility of making more episodes in the future, after the quintet - and Jake's little girl Zara - reunite for a Christmas dinner.

He told The Sun newspaper: "Well, you should never say never, but I just said it twice.

"I don't know is the honest answer.

"I remember on the first series somebody asking us, could it go on as it has legs?

"I said, as a joke, we'll probably go on until one of the kids has a child and we have.

"Maybe when the little girl grows up and she has kids Guy [Jenkin, co-writer] and I will be 138 years old by that time, which would be a remarkable feat. But who knows is the honest answer."

Away from the joy the show brings, the special will feature touching scenes where Hugh Dennis' character breaks the news of his prostate cancer diagnosis.

The 62-year-old comedian is quoted by the Daily Star newspaper's Hot TV column as saying: "Pretty much every family has been touched by cancer in some way ... my dad had cancer at 66.

"So I'm pleased to have done this storyline."

As well as Andy, the comedy's fellow creator Guy Jenkin was determined to tackle the plotline with both charm and humour.

Guy said: "Nearly every family in the country has experienced this in similar forms, including the Royal Family. We wanted to show how very normal it is and how the Brockmans deal with it and warmth and love and humour."

Andy added: "The key to the episode is not about the cancer, it's about the conversation.

"It's a conversation that's happened in millions of homes. We wanted to depict that in an honest and funny way.

"Humour is an essential survival skill for people to get through tough situations.

"There will be cancer patients who watch the show and our hope is that they find it reassuring in some way ... the show gives off the signal that they're not alone."