Mrs. Brown's Boys

Radio Times review

Agnes Brown cleaned up last year - not her potty mouth, of course, but in the Christmas Day ratings battle, confounding her detractors and reeling in 9.2 million viewers as the night's most watched show.

In the first of two jaunty festive editions, Mammy is singed by her Christmas tree, believes Rory is having a sex change, and gets a huge laugh from her misuse - in front of two priests - of what is best described on this page as a marital aid. As ever the most satisfying moments come when the cast break the "fourth wall", leaving in a fluffed line from Eilish O'Carroll (Winnie) and teasing Jennifer Gibney (Cathy) about her early exit from Strictly.

Mrs. Brown's Boys Christmas special preview

The Christmas special is some mildly amusing if unsatisfying comedy that's an easy watch if you want to put something on the TV, but this is a present that's best put back under the tree.

Last year it was potty-mouth Agnes Brown and her funny family who won the festive ratings war, so she has a lot to live up to this time round in what could be one of the last of the disfunctional Dubliner's TV appearances.

After all, she and her alter-ego Brendan O'Carroll are movie stars now.

Again the Christmas tree almost deserves an acting credit as chaos reigns in the front room. The arrival of a large box for Cathy has Agnes intrigued, and Rory announces that husband Dino is buying him plastic surgery for Christmas.

Things go from bad to worse when Agnes gets the wrong end of the stick about exactly what sort of nips and tucks we're talking about.

And Buster Brady delivers Agnes that magical new Christmas tree which is sure to restore her festive spirit. If only it would co-operate...

Whatever you may think of this vulgar panto-style Irish sitcom, it was d'most watched programme of last Christmas. Duly, the BBC has re-invested in two more specials packed with double entendres, ad libs, and actors corpsing. Tonight, following a spate of burglaries, Mammy invests in a "state of the art" alarm system from Buster Brady. True, this is a very uncool show, but it is end-of-the-pier stuff done as well as you're likely to see without an actual pier. It also contains a good joke about the merits of newspapers versus iPads.

O'Carroll: 'End Mrs Brown's Boys? You must be kidding!'

Brendan O'Carroll has denied reports that Mrs Brown's Boys won't return for any more full series.

Gary Hollywood interview

TV Choice caught up with Gary Hollywood, who plays Rory's boyfriend, gay crimper Dino in the series, to find out what the cast have been up to over the past twelve months, how he'll be spending the festive season, and what the next few years have in store...

Mrs Brown Christmas specials could be last ever

Brendan O'Carroll has said no to another series and ruled out a sequel to big-screen hit Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie, son Danny claims.

Mrs Brown's Boys festive show is a real cracker

Gary Hollywood, who struggled to keep a straight face on set, reveals that the biggest star of this year's special is the Christmas tree.

Brendan O'Carroll rejected Mrs Brown on Strictly

Comedian Brendan O'Carroll turned down a chance for Mrs Brown to tango on hit show Strictly Come Dancing, he has revealed.