---
title: "Outnumbered: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/outnumbered/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/outnumbered"
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Outnumbered (2007): what the critics said

Critics' score 77 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative.

The reviews lean warm. Most critics single out the semi-improvised approach and the natural performances from the children as what sets Outnumbered apart from other sitcoms, and the praise clusters on how truthfully it catches middle-class parental weariness: the small defeats, the arguments lost before they have started. Several describe it as authentic rather than laugh-out-loud funny, and mean that as a compliment.

The reservations arrive with time. The later reviews, from The Guardian and Radio Times, find the charm thinner once the children have grown up and the improvised lines begin to sound written, and Radio Times is the one mixed voice, finding the final run easier to say goodbye to. Otherwise the spread is narrow; nobody dislikes it, and even Digital Spy, which finds the first series more amusing than hilarious, still calls it a winner. The Times, reviewing the fifth series, sees no fatigue at all.

## The Times — Andrew Billen

Rating ****. 30 January 2014. 

The fifth series continues to poke fun at beleaguered middle-class parents in an acute reading of family relationships. It is described as a prime example of smart-arse children sitcoms, with every line funny and in touch with reality.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/tv-review-outnumbered-wcdq3gwwjh0)

## The Independent

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2008. 

The critic praises the show's low-key, unpushy comedy and its spot-on portrayal of parental weariness and family dynamics. The fade-to-blacks and truthful details make it beautifully authentic for parents.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-night-s-television-outnumberedbbc2-beehive-e4-1050513.html)

## The AV Club — Meredith Blake

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2011. 

The critic praises the show's authenticity and natural child performances, contrasting it with typical American sitcoms; highlights the understated humor and subtle sweetness in depicting middle-class British family life.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/outnumbered-1798169086)

## The Telegraph

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2014. 

The review notes that Outnumbered remains unmissable and close to real family life, with its improvisational style distinguishing it from other sitcoms. The critic highlights the relatable struggles of the parents and the clever, funny lines from the children.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/10604205/Outnumbered-v-Modern-Family-Which-is-the-best-family-sitcom.html)

## The Guardian

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 March 2014. 

The critic bids farewell to the series as the child actors have grown up and the improvisational magic has diminished, though it was great while it lasted. The show is praised for its authentic portrayal of family life built around the children's performances.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/mar/06/outnumbered-dancing-in-the-blitz-tv-review)

## Radio Times — Ben Dowell

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the series less funny now that the children have grown up and become more ordinary or scripted, losing the original charm of their improvisation. He notes it was a joy for most of its run but easier to say goodbye to in its current form.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/farewell-outnumbered-you-were-good-while-you-lasted-but-older-kids-just-arent-as-funny/)

## Digital Spy — Dek Hogan

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2007. 

The review finds the semi-improvised approach with natural child actors a pleasant surprise, calling it a highly watchable and amusing winner that stretches the sitcom form, despite not being laugh-out-loud funny.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a74945/parenthood/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/outnumbered.md