For years, I’ve struggled to understand why Mrs Brown’s Boys continues to dominate the BBC’s Christmas TV schedule. Like many curious viewers, I once sat down determined to “get” the appeal that draws millions in every festive season.
I didn’t last long.
Within minutes, there were pratfalls stacked on pratfalls, a laugh track doing far too much heavy lifting, and a barrage of expletives passed off as punchlines. The humour felt less warm and familiar, more grating and exhausting. Watching the titular Mrs Brown perform yet another exaggerated spit take in a pub scene, I realised I wasn’t laughing — I was counting down the minutes.
Critics have long shared that sentiment. The show has been labelled by some as one of the worst comedies ever made, regularly savaged for its broad, clumsy style. And yet, despite the backlash, it remains a fixture of Christmas Day television.
What makes its continued presence even harder to swallow is what happened behind the scenes.
In October 2024, reports emerged that Brendan O’Carroll, the creator and star of the show, made a remark during rehearsals that alluded to a racial slur while improvising in character. According to reports, he began a phrase that was cut short by another performer — but not before offence had been caused.
The fallout was serious. A Black member of staff was said to have quit the production, and the BBC launched an internal investigation. O’Carroll later described the moment as a “clumsy attempt at a joke,” admitting it backfired and caused offence, adding that he deeply regretted it and had apologised.
For many watching from the outside, it felt like a breaking point. In 2024, how could such a comment still surface so casually? Social media was awash with calls for the show to be axed, with viewers arguing that this should have been the final straw.
But it wasn’t.
Not only did the Christmas special still air that year, the show returned for another series in the summer, followed by yet another two-part festive special this Christmas. A BBC spokesperson reiterated that the corporation is against all forms of racism and has robust processes in place when issues arise — but to many, the optics were uncomfortable.
Ending the show last year could have marked a clean break: a chance for the BBC to step away from a programme that has long divided audiences and is now shadowed by controversy. Instead, the person most visibly affected by the incident appeared to be a junior member of staff whose career was disrupted, while the show’s creator carried on largely unscathed.
This wasn’t an isolated moment either. O’Carroll has previously drawn criticism for remarks about race, including comments made during promotional interviews tied to his cameo alongside Tyler Perry. Those moments, viewed in hindsight, paint a troubling picture when paired with the show’s long-standing lack of diversity.
As the national broadcaster, the BBC is expected to reflect and represent modern Britain. By continuing to platform a programme mired in accusations of outdated humour and unresolved controversy, it risks eroding that trust.
Mrs Brown’s Boys was never going to be part of my festive viewing plans. But seeing it once again occupying a prized slot on Christmas Day feels increasingly indefensible. For many viewers, the biggest joke of all is not what happens on screen — but that the show is still there at all.
