Outnumbered star responds after ‘concerned’ fans comment on Jake actor’s appearance

We finally returned to the chaotic Brockman household last night for the Outnumbered Christmas special but fans were all left saying the same thing about Tyger Drew-Honey, who plays Jake in the sitcom, after tuning in.

BBC viewers were absolutely buzzing last night (26 December) to finally get stuck into the eagerly-awaited Christmas special episode, reuniting with the likes of Claire Skinner who plays mum Sue, Hugh Dennis who plays dad Pete and their three bonkers children all grown-up; Ramona Marquez as Karen, Daniel Roche as Ben and Tyger Drew-Honey as the eldest, Jake.

The beloved TV programme originally ran for five series from 2007, but last night's latest episode saw us all finally catch up with the Brockman gang a whole eight years since the last special aired.

The long-awaited Outnumbered special aired last night on Boxing Day (BBC)

Now, Tyger, Daniel and Ramona were 11, seven and five years old when the show first started but they're all well into their 20s now.

And a lot has clearly changed.

For starters, mischievous Jake is now a father of a 'feisty' three-year-old which has clearly taken a toll on his quality of sleep - something the make-up department made sure to exacerbate.

However, some fans were left quite worried after seeing Tyger's paler complexion and dark circles around his eyes prompting them to rush to social media to share their concerns.

One Instagram user penned: "Tyger looks unwell, really hope he is okay."

"Tyger needs some sleep," hit out a second while a third chimed in: "Tiger looks ill!"

A fourth echoed: "I know Jake is meant to be tired from being a dad but that makeup is a bit OTT."

People were concerned over his appearance (Adam Lawrence/BBC/Hat Trick Productions)

Others, however, were quick to hammer the point that Tyger's tiresome get-up was simply a matter of some very realistic-looking make-up with a fifth explaining: "It’s make up!!"

"If you look at the other comments it's just makeup for the storyline. If you look at his insta and his recent theatre performance pictures he is fine," quipped another.

And Ramona, who plays little sister Karen, confirmed: "TYGER IS WEARING MAKEUP TO DEPICT A SLEEP DEPRIVED JAKE, WHOS JUST BECOME A FATHER OF A FEISTY 3 YEAR OLD. NEW PARENTS WILL UNDERSTAND!! TUNE IN BOXING DAY."

"You tell em Mona," Daniel, who plays her older brother, Ben, added.

While many were beyond buzzing to catch up with the Brockmans, some BBC viewers felt the reunion episode 'didn't work'.

"It’s a shame Outnumbered didn’t really work… I really wanted to enjoy it but what made it so brilliant back in the day was all the chaos," declared one viewer.

Another agreed: "This only worked when the children were younger unlike Gavin & Stacey where it doesn’t matter how old the characters are. What made it funny was the natural outspoken nature of children."

And a final critic added: "Will love and cherish anything in the Outnumbered cinematic universe but I think the reason the show was so good was that there was no official script and the kids were all just kids?? But now they’re all old it just doesn’t have the same charm."