Hugh Dennis (Mock the Week) and Claire Skinner (Coma) will return as Sue and Pete, the parents of three unruly children, who have now fled the nest and are living independent lives as adults.

Tyger Drew-Honey (Cuckoo), Daniel Roche (Just William), and Ramona Marquez (The King’s Speech) will return as Jake, Ben, and the iconic younger sibling Karen.

The special will see Sue and Pete, now grandparents, hosting a family Christmas in their new downsized flat. But the path to wholesome family moments is peppered with hurdles such as hyenas and bus replacement services.

Outnumbered ran from 2007 to 2014, and saw the children grow into teenagers. They returned for a Christmas special two years after the series ended, which saw the family get stranded in a pub after a mild car crash.

Dennis and Skinner revealed after filming the special that their on-screen romance had moved off-screen, and have been in a relationship since 2017.

Dennis says: “I can’t wait for the Brockmans to be back together again. Pete and Sue have downsized, the children are no longer children, but I’m sure family life will prove to be just as chaotic as ever.”

Skinner says: “I’m really looking forward to being reunited with my TV family. Working on this wonderful BBC comedy doesn’t feel like work and is one of the greatest joys for us all.”