Mrs Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll reveals fate of BBC comedy beyond Christmas Special
THE creator of Mrs Brown’s Boys has revealed the fate of the BBC comedy beyond its Christmas Special.
Brendan O’Carroll is a man of many talents as he created, wrote and starred in the long-running sitcom.
Mrs Brown’s Boys won the Best Comedy award last night at the 2024 National Television Awards.
The 68-year-old appeared at the star-studded event alongside his wife and co-star Jennifer Gibney.
Speaking backstage, Brendan, 68, confirmed that he has plans to do more than the obligatory festive episode that usually airs on Christmas Day.
The Agnes Brown star confirmed he is preparing a series of episodes for the Easter period.
He admitted: “I think we’re going to be doing another mini series for April, but whenever the BBC broadcast them.”
It was also revealed that filming for the forthcoming Christmas special will begin in just a few weeks.
Although Brendan revealed that whilst production will be under way shortly, he still has yet to put together the scenes.
“It’s hard to believe this Christmas Day episode will be our 50th episode,” the comedian remarked.
“We do the same special in three weeks or four weeks time. I could tell you what they’re about if I had of f*****g written them but I’ve not written them [yet].”
After they went up on stage to collect the gong, Brendan and Jennifer, 60, couldn’t help but reflect on the success of the series backstage.
Adding: “It’s been tremendous, to get this award is our sixth and I just feel really… but I don’t care
“It’s voted for by the audience and viewers. This is the icing on the cake it’s amazing.
“Cast and crew are family it’s been 38 years now all our production crew are family and all the cast is family.”
Jennifer explained: “It’s actually humbling when you hear the response it’s one of the few shows that the entire family can watch together.
“We got a message from a man who said her family member was suffering from dementia and he said they sat down and it was the first time they heard a laugh.”
I think we’re going to be doing another mini series for April, but whenever the BBC broadcast them
Brendan O'Carroll speaking backstage at the NTA's
Adding: “It’s just what the doctors ordered.”
Mrs Brown’s Boys has previously won a selection of awards, and this time around the stars confirmed they will keep their new honour on a shelf in their Florida home.
And it seems they are still determined to carry on as they admitted that they have no plans to stop doing the show any time soon.
When asked if the show will end, they replied: “When the BBC stop asking us.”
Best BBC comedies
We look back at some of the best to ever grace the screen.
Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) – Only two series were made of the beloved institution. However, the cultural impact of the series starring John Cleese and Connie Booth spans decades. It follows rude and intolerant Basil Fawlty (Cleese) as he attempts to improve the reputation of his hotel.
Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003) – The show was crowned by some as the best British sitcom of all time by a TV poll in 2004. Seven series were broadcast on BBC until 1991 with additional sporadic Christmas specials airing until 2003. Sir David Jason starred as ambitious market trader Derek “Del Boy” Trotter whilst Nicholas Lyndhurst played his younger half-brother Rodney. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it follows the highs and lows of the lives of the Trotters’, in particular their brazen attempts to get rich.
Blackadder (1983 – 1989) – Four series were made of the iconic show, created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Each series spans a different historical period as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson) tries to better himself in each society. Accompanied by his dogsbody Baldrick (Tony Robinson), trouble always ensues. A TV poll in 2004 found that Blackadder was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time
Absolutely Fabulous (1992 – 2012) – Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley star as failing PR guru Edina ‘Eddie’ Monsoon and alcoholic fashionista Patsy Stone. The pair embark on heavy-drinking sessions and abuse drugs in a desperate attempt to stay ‘hip’. Eddie constantly chases bizarre fads and fails to lose weight whilst her disappointed and neglected daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha) looks on.
Little Britain (2003 – 2006) – The premise is simple. A sketch show which features different British people from all walks of life that are engaged in all sorts of comical scenarios. Starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the pair created iconic pop culture characters. Viewers loved obnoxious council estate teenager Vicky Pollard, morbidly obese scrounger Bubbles Devere, slimming coach Marjorie Dawes, despondent office worker Carol Beer, disgraced politician Sir Norman Fry, of course the iconic Lou and Andy!
The Catherine Tate Show (2004-2015) – A sketch show starring the likes of Catherine Tate. She made iconic characters such as rowdy schoolgirl Lauren Cooper with her line ‘Am I bovvered?’. Other characters featured Bernie the nurse, the aga saga woman, complaining couple Janice and Ray, and of course her infamous ‘Nan’, Joannie Taylor. The last character herself spawned multiple specials and even a movie.
Gavin and Stacey (2007 – Present) The series tells the story of Gavin (Matthew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page). The pair embarked on an online and telephone romance for six months. But when they finally decide to be together properly, their friends and family get in the way. Ruth Jones and James Corden created the beloved show, which has been going for over a decade. The 2019 Christmas special was the most-watched comedy in 17 years and the most-viewed non-sporting event in a decade.
Previous editions of Mrs Brown’s Boys are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.