BBC Outnumbered star issues statement as they address controversial ending amid backlash to return
BBC Outnumbered star Ramona Marquez, 23, has broken her silence over the reaction to the family comedy’s Boxing Day special.
The festive instalment saw the Brockmans return to screens for the first time in eight years
The special saw the return of dad Pete (Hugh Dennis) and mum Sue (Claire Skinner) and their now grown-up children Jake, Ben and Karen – played by Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Marquez respectively.
A new family home, a grandchild through Jake, Ben’s travels around the world and Karen’s relationship dramas were some of the new challenges facing the parents.
However, it was a more sombre plot that took the focus of the episode and divided fan opinion – Pete’s prostate cancer diagnosis and how he revealed it to his family.
The BBC described the special as a gathering “in a moment of adversity” for a traditional family Christmas – which Marquez defended on social media.
“Someone said there was a lot of negativity over on Twitter and that made me sad,” Marquez wrote on her Instagram story.
Later, she thanked fans in another post and explained her thoughts on the episode.
“I’m so proud of the episode and it was for all the many many people who have been affected by cancer, it was trying to reduce the stigma around the word and just show how very very normal it is for many families.
“We loved it and so happy all of you did too,” Marquez concluded.
Marquez was responding to some fans’ disappointment with the new direction and serious plot compared to the more light-hearted earlier series.
Taking to social media, one fan wrote: “Thought the Outnumbered special episode was going to be happy and nostalgic but they’ve moved house and Pete is dying.”
“Expecting an all timer for #Outnumbered but there’s a new house and a random cancer storyline and not one funny moment,” another complained.
A third shared their perspective during their own health struggles: “As someone recently diagnosed with cancer of the blood and bone marrow, I was looking for a bit of escapism in an old comedy favourite. Instead, I get this depressing old bs.”
“My family watching the #Outnumbered special after my Dad (who had prostate cancer) died last year seriously wtf was that we’re all sad now,” a fourth agreed.
A fifth slammed: “Just caught up with Outnumbered…utterly depressing throughout. Why do the BBC insist on destroying our mental wellbeing with this “real life” aka pure bleakness.”
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Outside of the health scare story, viewers also complained about the general quality of the long-awaited return – with one branding it one of “the worst programmes on TV all year”.
Fans also worried over the appearance of Drew-Honey, claiming he was unrecognisable and looked “like he could be having trouble away from the camera”.
Despite the upset, other viewers hailed the festive special as a success.
“Oh I loved the #Outnumbered Christmas special! So good to see the whole family and new faces back for one episode!” wrote one.
Another questioned: “How people can watch that #Outnumbered special and think it’s bad?! … It was also f*****g hilarious and amazing. It was classic Outnumbered. It was amazing!”
“I generally enjoyed #Outnumbered, it was always gonna be a different dynamic with all of them older but it felt real and had laugh-out-loud moments,” a third concluded. (sic)