Only 20% of the popular BBC comedy Outnumbered was improvised, with the vast majority of the show, around 80%, being scripted.
The Improvised vs. Scripted Breakdown
Despite a common misconception that Outnumbered was largely, or even entirely, improvised due to its naturalistic performances, especially from the child actors, a significant portion of the dialogue was pre-written. According to Tyger Drew-Honey, who played Jake Brockman in the series, the show's script was "perhaps eighty per cent... scripted – although quite loosely scripted, because you can change the words a bit and stuff." This means that only about one-fifth of the show was truly improvised on the spot by the cast.
The "loosely scripted" nature allowed for a degree of flexibility, enabling the actors, particularly the children, to deliver lines with their own natural intonation and phrasing, contributing to the show's authentic feel. This approach helped create the illusion of spontaneity, which was a hallmark of the series.
Here's a breakdown of the production method:
| Aspect | Percentage | Description
