Mrs Browns Boys star Brendan OCarroll halts show and sparks BBC probe after making racist joke: Actor says he deeply regrets clumsy line
Brendan OCarroll says he deeply regrets clumsy line after making a racist joke during rehearsals for the Christmas specials of Mrs Browns Boys.
Brendan OCarroll says he deeply regrets clumsy line after making a racist joke during rehearsals for the Christmas specials of Mrs Browns Boys.
The Irish comedian, 69, was in the role of Agnes Brown when he made the offensive remark which backfired and caused offence.
The BBC halted the show to launch an investigation after the slur was flagged to bosses.
Last night, OCarroll apologised as he told The Mirror: At a read-through of the Mrs. Browns Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, in the character of Agnes, where a racial term was implied.
It backfired and caused offence which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.
Brendan OCarroll says he deeply regrets clumsy line after making a racist joke during rehearsals for the Christmas specials of Mrs Browns Boys
The Irish comedian, 69, (pictured on ITVs This Morning in 2022) was in the role of Agnes Brown when he made the offensive remark which backfired and caused offence
The rehearsals have since resumed in Glasgow at the broadcasters Pacific Quay studios in Scotland - with shows going ahead as planned.
A source told The Mirror that cast and crew were stood down while the corporation tried to get to the bottom of it.
Mrs Browns Boys creator and star OCarroll will return to his role as mischievous matriarch Agnes Brown in the Christmas Day and New Years Day specials.
A BBC spokesperson said: Whilst we dont comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism, and we have robust processes in place should issues ever arise.
Last year, Mrs Browns Boys returned for a four-part series.
Despite being a regular feature on Christmas schedules for more than a decade, the episodes marked the first mini-series run since 2013.
It comes after it was announced that OCarroll will star in new BBC sitcom Shedites and will touch on mens mental health and is due to hit screens by the fall.
The new BBC programme will star iconic funnyman Tommy Cannon, 86, who previously starred in The Cannon and Ball Show, as the leading character.
OCarroll told The Sun: Its using comedy to touch on mens mental health. The BBC loved the pilot. Hopefully it will be out in the fall.
It comes after Mrs Browns Boys won a National Television Award for Best Comedy last month.
And following the win OCarroll revealed he has accepted that Mrs Browns Boys is marmite television.
It comes after Mrs Browns Boys won a National Television Award for Best Comedy last month
The TV star famously employs his family to appear alongside him, with his wife Jennifer Gibney starring as his on-screen daughter Cathy (left, alongside Rory Cowan and Pat Shields)
OCarroll, winner of the Comedy Award for his role in Mrs Browns Boys, at the National Television Awards at the O2 Arena in September
In 2020, it was confirmed that the BBC had signed a deal with Brendan to guarantee new Christmas specials until at least 2026
The comedian has starred as the titular matriarch in the long-running BBC sitcom for almost 14 years, and initially brought the character to life as part of a radio play in the early 1990s.
But after the shows continued success, he has accepted that viewers may love or hate the show and insisted that all art is subjective anyway.
He also insisted that he has never said anything that would put the show into disrepute as he admitted he never imagined the series lasting as long as it has.
He said: Because why would you bother? But I have gone on to say, "Oh I love that, that is really f***ing good". When we do the mini series, this April, May itll be our 56th episode. I signed on for 18.
Aside from its television run, Mrs Browns Boys has hit the road a number of times to play to theatres and arenas around the country.
The show has spawned two spin-off movies and, around its four regular series, has returned every single year for a festive special since 2013.
In 2020, it was confirmed that the BBC had signed a deal with Brendan to guarantee new Christmas specials until at least 2026.
