October 14th 2024.
Brendan O’Carroll, the creator and star of Mrs Brown’s Boys, recently found himself in the middle of a racism scandal. The Irish actor came under fire for a joke made during rehearsals for the show’s upcoming Christmas special. The incident caused the BBC to temporarily pause rehearsals and launch an urgent investigation. However, rehearsals have since resumed at the broadcaster’s Pacific Quay studios in Scotland and the shows are still scheduled to go ahead as planned.
In a statement, O’Carroll, 69, apologized for the joke, admitting that it was a “clumsy” attempt at humor and that it caused offense. He also expressed regret for his actions and apologized for any harm caused. Despite the controversy, O’Carroll will still be returning to his role as the mischievous matriarch Agnes Brown in the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day specials.
The show, which regularly draws in five million viewers, has been a staple on Christmas schedules for over a decade. The BBC, who has stated their stance against all forms of racism, assured that they have processes in place to handle such incidents should they occur. A source also revealed that the entire cast and crew were stood down during the investigation, causing a pause in the production of the Christmas special.
Last year, Mrs Brown’s Boys returned for a four-part series, marking its first mini-series run since 2013. Despite being a divisive show among TV fans, it still manages to pull in up to five million viewers per episode. Due to its popularity, the BBC has already greenlit a fifth series, set to begin production in 2025, and confirmed additional Christmas specials.
O’Carroll, who won a comedy award at this year’s National Television Awards, announced last month that filming for another series will take place in April and May 2025. The upcoming Christmas special will also mark the show’s 50th episode. However, this news has been overshadowed by the recent controversy.
This scandal is not the first to hit the BBC, as there have been a string of other controversies in recent months. Earlier this year, an internal investigation was launched following complaints of misconduct by Strictly Come Dancing professionals. Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore, and Ranvir Singh all raised concerns about bullying and inappropriate behavior from Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima. The investigation concluded with several complaints being upheld against Pernice, but he was cleared of the most serious allegations.
Furthermore, in a separate incident, former newsreader Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. As a result of these controversies, the BBC has pledged to take action and create a safer and more welcoming workplace for all employees.
In light of these events, the BBC has recently concluded an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Giovanni Pernice. They have also emphasized their commitment to tackling inappropriate behavior and abuse of power in the workplace. As for Mrs Brown’s Boys, fans can still expect to see the Christmas special on their screens this year. And if you have a story, video, or pictures related to this or any other celebrity news, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the entertainment team.
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