Mrs. Brown's Boys

In an act of a solidarity with the millions of you forced to sit through hours of TV you don't want to watch (and the fact that the BBC wouldn't let me watch Dr Who in advance), I thought it would only be proper to end this review with a few words on the last show I would want to spend Christmas evening watching... Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special (Christmas Day, BBC One).

It may have been the sherry, it may have been the wine, it might have been the clever metatextual moment when Brendan O'Carroll asked a workman to say something - "You've got a speaking part now, they'll have to pay you extra. Merry Christmas son!" - but I almost made it all the way through. Almost. So here are my six words on Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special: "I really miss The Royle Family".

Mrs Brown's Boys a surprise Christmas Day ratings hit

BBC One's Mrs Brown's Boys has topped the Christmas Day ratings chart.

Who is the real Mrs Brown?

Brendan O'Carroll's unlikely inspiration is a legendary Irish radical, reveals his biographer.

Mrs Brown interrupted for Mandela? How could they!

The BBC's decision to cut short an episode of Mrs Brown's Boys to announce Nelson Mandela's death has triggered nearly 1,000 angry complaints. Here, we summarise everything fans missed in those crucial 12 minutes.

Mrs Brown: The People's Princess?

Brendan O'Carroll's comic creation is generating Diana-like levels of public affection. Why has the nation has taken Mrs Brown to its bosum?

Mrs Brown's Boys repeat tops ratings outside of soaps

Mrs Brown's Boys was the most-watched primetime programme on a quiet night outside of soaps on Friday (September 20), according to overnight audience data.

Brendan O'Carroll was once in the frame for murder

When former business partner Kevin Moore was found hanged, the finger of suspicion pointed at Brendan, and he was arrested.

Mrs Brown's Boys named Best Comedy at TV Choice Awards

Mrs Brown's Boys was named best comedy at the TV Choice Awards last night.

Eilish O'Carroll: I love touring with Mrs Brown

Mrs Brown's Boys' Winnie McGoogan is the perfect stooge for the caustic Agnes Brown, a lady who can take the put-downs in her stride. And the actor who plays Winnie, Eilish O'Carroll, is certainly smart enough to get the nuance of the TV clown just right.

Mrs. Brown repeat on Saturday beats ITV & C4 in ratings

A repeat of the hit BBC sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys beat everything shown on ITV and Channel 4 in the ratings on Saturday night.