RTE Mrs Brown's Boys controversies over years - lawsuit, divorce, and racist remarks

Mrs Brown's Boys has won its fair share of awards since it first aired in 2011, with Christmas specials set to be released each year until 2026 - but the RTÉ sitcom has faced several controversies over its time on TV

Hit RTÉ comedy show Mrs Brown's Boys launched in 2011 and was an instant hit with viewers, but over the years the show has seen its fair share of controversies.

The show is headed by loud-mouthed Dublin matriarch Mrs Brown, played by the creator Brendan O'Carroll, with the rest of the rolling cast played by many of his friends and close family.

Commissioned by both RTÉ and the BBC, the award-winning series follows Agnes Brown who loves to meddle in the lives of her six children. The show has snagged gongs in Ireland and the UK including the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Entertainment Program.

READ MORE: BBC boss gives excruciating response when asked if he finds Mrs Brown's Boys funny

READ MORE: Mrs Brown's Boys halted after Brendan O'Carroll sparks racism row with cast and crew

But since airing, Mrs Brown's Boys has been the centre of several controversies over the years. From lawsuits to racist remarks, here are the top controversies that have plagued the show:

Ratings plummet in the UK

Some Mrs Brown’s Boys stars were in fear the comedy could be struck from the air in the UK after rating plunged by around a third. The comedy show had seen a ratings slump on the BBC, with some of the cast worried that their days were numbered.

One telly insider told the Daily Star: “There is a feeling among some of the cast that the show is not going to run for much longer. The ratings are down and it feels like viewers are getting tired of it.

“For many of the cast, this show is their main source of income, so it’s nerve-racking to think about it ending. But they are trying to be realistic.”

Despite this, back in December 2020, Brendan O’Carroll announced a series of Christmas specials had been commissioned up to 2026. The show also returned for a fourth series in 2023, marking the first in almost a decade.

Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll in BBC racism probe - 'clumsy joke backfired'

In the most recent scandal, Mrs Brown’s Boys star Brendan O’Carroll apologised for making a racist remark which sparked a BBC probe.

The Irish comedian, 69, used the offensive term during a read-through of the Christmas special with cast and crew last Wednesday. The BBC ordered an urgent investigation meaning that rehearsals for the episode were temporarily suspended.

Those present were said to have been left shocked by the implied slur and flagged it with the BBC afterwards who acted immediately.

Brendan told the Mirror: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s 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.”

'Worst year of his life'

Known for his iconic role as Scottish hairdresser and work colleague and the boyfriend of Rory Brown, Dino Doyle, Gary Hollywood revealed that he had been struggling mentally after his exit from the show.

Hollywood played the hairdresser from 2004 until 2020, with the star carrying the pain of losing his brother alongside the anxiety of his son's premature birth.

“It’s absolutely been the worst year of my life,” He told OK! Magazine.

He added: “I’ve felt depressed – it was one thing after another. As a man, you’re told to 'man up', which makes things worse."

The star lost his brother Gerard after he had been in the hospital and was given the all clear from Covid, before suffering from two heart attacks shortly after his release.

“It still doesn’t make it any less painful, though, especially when you realise as time goes on that you’ll never truly get over the loss of a sibling,” Gary explained.

The Mrs Brown’s Boys actor also had to deal with the traumatic birth of his premature son, Ollie. “He came a month early and weighed just over 5lb,” Gary said.

He added: “He was jaundiced and in an incubator, so we couldn’t hold him, which was heartbreaking. But he’s thriving now and that’s the main thing.”

'Murky' behind the scenes 'secret feud'

Hollywood quit the show in 2020 following alleged tension behind the scenes, with reports the star quit after a row over pay. In an interview, he admitted he is glad to be off the show.

He said: “I’m getting on with my life. I’m out of the show now and to be honest, I am glad in a sense. I feel free from all the murkiness and what it is becoming.

“It’s very strange to not be on the show after 10 years of doing Christmas specials. People have been very supportive and asking if I’m okay.

"We have all grown up together. We have shared in success. So I don’t know why this had to turn out dirty and murky. It feels like a bad divorce."

Although, creator O’Carroll admitted last year that he misses Hollywood on the show. Brendan said: “He was a great actor, and we miss him. He used to call me father. He was part of the family, and we haven’t spoken since and haven’t heard a word from him since.”

Mrs Brown’s Boys' acting couple split after 15 years

Fiona O’Carroll split from husband of 15 years and co star on the sitcom Martin Delany back in December 2021.

The acting pair play in-laws Maria Brown and Trevor Brown in the divisive RTE comedy series and began dating in their teens, before tying the knot in 2006.

She shared: "We wanted different things. I still have a lot of love for him and I only want the best for him and I think he feels the same way about me.

"There were no major fights, and nobody else was involved but it was a case of not being on the same page any longer."

Brendan O'Carroll lawsuit dropped

Former Mrs Brown’s Boys star Gary Hollywood also dropped his pay row lawsuit against Brendan O’Carroll in 2021.

The Dino Doyle actor had launched legal action against O’Carroll, the BBC and TV production company Hungry Bear Media Limited, citing discrimination and unfair dismissal, although he later withdrew all claims during a preliminary hearing.

In papers lodged with an employment tribunal, Hollywood said he was paid 25 per cent less than his colleagues for his role in 2020's six-part chat show spin-off, All Round to Mrs Brown’s.

The actor also made claims that he was dropped from one of the two Christmas specials just days before filming started.

But the star removed his claims during a preliminary Employment Tribunal hearing in the UK by video link.

In the judgement, seen by this paper, during the hearing, Hollywood said that he believed that he had been induced to enter a contract, under which he agreed to receive a lower fee than his colleagues, because of a misrepresentation.

However, the Employment Tribunal ruled that “this is not a type of claim in respect of which the tribunal has jurisdiction. And therefore no dismissal order can be made”.

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