3. Heading Out
Heading Out was the brainchild of Sue Perkins, who has rocketed into being a British national treasure thanks to her presence on The Great British Bake-Off. Adverts suggested that it would essentially be the lesbian Miranda, another British treasure that has been wildly successful in the UK at least. Perkins plays a 40-year-old gay vet who is still not 'out' to her parents, and follows the efforts of her friends giving her an ultimatum to tell her parents the truth, or to have it done for her. This idea was definitely novel - how many mainstream comedy shows follow a protagonist's woes coming out? - and Perkin's influence should have done it proud. However the show itself was too awkward, too clunky, and the gags were often weak. There was definite potential, but that potential seemed to have nowhere to go. Due to low ratings the sitcom did not receive a second series, although Perkins has said that it was intended to be a six-part sitcom rather than anything longer lasting.