A few years ago I tried to watch Mrs Brown’s Boys, eager to find out exactly what it was for the millions of people who watch the show every time. Christmas and New year.
I lasted 10 minutes. There was laughter. A criminally overused laugh track. Endless streams of expletives masquerading as jokes.
It was… gross.
For me it is broad comedy lands far more annoying than endearing, and I was flat-faced watching the title character do three spittakes in a row during a visit to the pub. I’m not alone—it’s long been a critical disaster and has been named the “worst comedy ever made.”
How its live studio audience, and its viewers at homestaying entertained is beyond me.
But this year, my confusion rose a few notches.
I might not have enjoyed watching Mrs Brown’s Boys on TV every Christmas, but its inclusion in the prime time slot of the year is insulting – as the actions of its central star earlier this year should have been the death knell for “Mammy” and her sons.
The series, created by and starring comedian Brendan O’Carroll, revolves around a curmudgeonly Dublin matriarch (O’Carroll in drag) whose family and neighbors constantly pop into her kitchen or living room to unwind.
But in October, news emerged that O’Carroll, 69, made a joke that alluded to a “racial term”, while improvising as Mrs. Brown during rehearsals – with the Daily Mail reporting he had said: ‘I don’t call a spade a spade, I call a spade a-‘, before starting to say the N-word and being cut off by another character.
The incident led to a black employee leaving the programme, while the BBC ordered an investigation.
In a statement, the comedian referred to making a “clumsy attempt at a joke” in character as Mrs. Brownwhich he “deeply regrets”.
O’Carroll added: “It backfired and caused offense which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.”
When I heard this story I thought this was the nail in the coffin of the show – how could a comment be made so openly in 2024? Surely, at this point, jokes like these were red lines in the entertainment industry?
As this story gained traction, there were calls to ax the show on social media, but it wasn’t long before things were back on track and rehearsals resumed.
A BBC spokesman said: “While we do not comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism, and we have robust processes in place should problems ever arise.”
Don’t just do it Mrs Brown’s Boys’ continued inclusion shows a lack of innovation to Christmas schedules, but it’s a disappointing example of the BBC not taking racism seriously.
Of course, Mrs Brown’s Boys was never going to be part of my Christmas Day plans – but seeing it on the TV schedule this year seems indefensible.
This would have been the perfect opportunity for the BBC to shake off the negative connotations of the terrifying show, which has now caused enough offense to prompt an investigation and leave a staff member.
The employee who left after O’Carroll’s comment is said to be a junior member of the team.
Because of one man’s behavior, someone’s career journey has been affected from the start, while the show star and creator comes out of the situation largely unscathed.
It’s an example of a company that protects big names at the expense of others – and doesn’t punish bad behavior.
This wasn’t the first time O’Carroll has surprised people with his views on race. In 2022, he made an appearance in Tyler Perry’s A Madea Homecoming, in which Perry played the matriarch Madea.
In that film, O’Carroll also tried his hand at the kind of “humor” that got him into trouble, during a sequence where the black characters think Mrs. Brown is saying the N-word rather than “panties.”
Asked in an interview if Perry would make an appearance in Mrs Brown’s Boys, O’Carroll replied: “He’s very expensive and so far we haven’t had anyone his color in there,” waving at Perry’s face at the word “color ‘.
I remember being shocked to see how casually O’Carroll tossed the comment out – as if it was perfectly acceptable and unworthy to attract any backlash.
By O’Carroll’s own admission, there had never been a black person on Mrs Brown’s Boys as recently as two years ago – with this lack of diversity in the cast, it makes his latest attempt at a joke all the more troubling.
Decisions like these reflect poorly on the BBC – as a national broadcaster they should inspire a sense of confidence. By adapting to work that causes harm and offence, it raises questions about who the company is really for – how can they be representative of modern Britain while allowing these types of incidents to go unpunished?
Regardless of its dubious content and scandal, Mrs Brown’s Boys will be on the TV screens of some this Christmas.
But as unfunny as we may think O’Carroll and co are, the worst joke of all is that the BBC still allows this show to air.
Do you have a story you want to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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