The show has become embroiled in a racism row after O'Carroll alluded to the highly offensive slur in front of shocked co-stars and production staff.

BBC show Mrs Brown's Boys, starring Irish actor Brendan O'Carroll, will be back on our screens at Christmas, but a "clumsy" joke from the star led rehearsals to be paused.

Brendan O'Carroll has apologised for a "clumsy" joke where a "racial term was implied" during rehearsals for the upcoming Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special.

The BBC temporarily paused rehearsals for the annual Mrs Brown's Boys' Christmas specials to investigate the incident as show creator Brendan O'Carroll issued an apology

A source has claimed that a junior member of the production team on BBC sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys was so 'upset' by Brendan O'Carroll's racist joke that they quit working on the show immediately

Brendan found himself in hot water with the BBC after the broadcaster had to pause rehearsals of the upcoming Christmas special to investigate a “racial term” that was implied.

Brendan found himself in hot water with the BBC after the broadcaster had to pause rehearsals of the upcoming Christmas special to investigate a “racial term” that was implied.

BBC bosses launched an investigation after Brendan O'Carroll, who plays Agnes Brown in the hit sitcom, 'implied' a racist term during a read-through for the show's Christmas special

TV bosses suspended work on Mrs Brown’s Boys after its star Brendan O’Carroll reportedly made a racist joke on set.

The show's creator says he made the "clumsy attempt at a joke" during a Christmas show rehearsal.

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