Mrs Brown’s Boys has returned to the BBC for the start of its fifth full-length series, with creator and star Brendan O’Carroll having recently announced the future of the show
BBC sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys made its return to television screens for the launch of its fifth complete series.
Initially broadcast in 2011, the programme established itself as a festive staple and commanded enormous success during its opening years. The 2013 Christmas Day episode attracted 11.52 million viewers, positioning it amongst the most-watched holiday programming of that era.
Nevertheless, audience numbers have consistently dropped. The programme last secured a place in the Christmas Day top ten during 2020, drawing 3.8 million viewers, reports the Mirror.
This follows Brendan O’Carroll finally revealing the show’s future plans to supporters. The series has consistently polarised both viewers and critics, and was recently branded the “worst ever BBC show” by certain audience members across social media platforms.
Reactions on X throughout tonight’s (Friday, August 1) episode featured: “Worst programme in human history should’ve never been commissioned” and “Just speechless… I honestly don’t know one person who thinks this show is remotely funny.”
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Another declared: “This show needs to be axed asap. It’s not one bit funny.” Someone else raged: “I actually hate this show with a passion and I’m Irish and from Dublin and I GET that kind of sense of humour.”
During 2023, Mrs Brown’s Boys encountered additional controversy after O’Carroll uttered a racial slur whilst rehearsing for the Christmas special.
Production staff were allegedly “shocked” by the comment and submitted formal complaints to BBC executives. The broadcaster halted production and initiated an investigation.
O’Carroll subsequently issued an apology, stating his “deep regret” over what he described as a “clumsy attempt at a joke.”
Breaking his silence on the matter for the first time during an appearance on Irish YouTube show Conversations With Gerry Kelly, O’Carroll insisted his remarks had been “completely taken out of context.” He further maintained that the controversy ultimately proved beneficial.
“The one thing that that incident did is give great awareness about racism, and great awareness about the BBC, they don’t take any messing… However, I think in the long run it was a good thing, because it got people talking about it.”
O’Carroll, whose Mrs Brown’s Boys has secured the National Television Award for Best Comedy on six occasions, has made it abundantly clear he remains unbothered by critics.
“The ones that love me, I love them, and the ones that don’t, f*** them,” he declared to Kelly, suggesting those who aren’t fans should simply “pick up the remote and change the station.”
Though viewing figures have declined, the programme retains a dedicated following and remains part of the BBC’s comedy schedule.
Tonight’s launch of the new series represents a new beginning for the programme as it attempts to regain some of its previous popularity amid persistent criticism.
Mrs Brown’s Boys is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
