Inside the Mrs Brown’s Boys’ Christmas special curse after race probe, cast row and health issues plague BBC comedy

MRS Brown’s Boys fans have been left devastated after Brendan O’Carroll announced the 2026 Christmas special has been axed amid a new health woe for the star. It’s not the only setback the much-loved show has faced over the years as we delve into the myriad of problems that have previously plagued the BBC comedy including a race probe, a cast row, and health issues. There won’t be a Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas special this year Credit: PA Over the years the festive edition of the comedy has been plagued by problems Credit: BBC Mrs Brown’s Boys, which sees Irish comedian Brendan play matriarch Agnes Brown, has been on BBC One since 2011. This has included a festive special every year, traditionally screened in the evening on Christmas Day. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! But over the years it has faced a number of problems which most recently included a race probe, whilst filming the 2024 Christmas special. RACE PROBE Brendan was forced to issue a grovelling apology after he cracked a “joke” using the N-word in front of a junior member of production who was so upset they later quit. Read more Mrs Brown's Boys Lead star Brendan faced a race probe in 2024 Credit: BBC The actor issued an apology over his slur Credit: BBC The BBC then temporarily halted filming the 2024 Christmas special after the comedian made the attempted gag which he later admitted had backfired. The moment occurred when the actor improvised on a read-through of the festive episode’s script, referring to “calling a spade a spade”. He was stopped from saying the final syllable of the offensive word by his wife, Jennifer Gibney, who plays his daughter, Cathy on the show. A TV insider said at the time: “Virtually everyone in the room on the day that the outburst happened were shocked, but the reading continued for some time without anyone saying or doing anything as they were so stunned.” Most read in TV An urgent probe was ordered by the BBC and rehearsals for the festive show were temporarily suspended and the cast and crew stood down. Brendan said of the incident: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, where a racial term was implied. “It backfired and caused offence, which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.” CAST ROW Cast rows have erupted behind-the-scenes Credit: Unknown The show was also engulfed in a pay gap dispute Credit: BBC In 2021, a furious row broke out between Mrs Brown’s Boys stars Rory Cowan and ­Damien McKiernan, who both played Rory on the hit show. Rory accused replacement Damien of taking “a nasty dig” at his former boss Brendan. Following Brendan’s TV appearance to promote his annual St Vincent de Paul charity drive, Damien tweeted: “Bono was right. Anyone who goes to newspapers or TV to talk about their charity work is just doing a PR stunt and it’s an exercise in self promotion. Desperate for attention…Bono is a wise man !!!” However this provoked a furious reaction from Rory. Commenting on the Damien tweet, he told the Irish Sun at the time: “That’s a nasty dig. “It’s a cheap shot. Brendan has been supporting St Vincent de Paul for over ten years by paying for hundreds and hundreds of Christmas dinners. He never did it for self promotion or anything else which is implied in this tweet. This guy Damien got it so wrong.” Meanwhile, the sitcom was also thrown into chaos after two actors quit due to an alleged pay gap row in 2020. Gary Hollywood and Damien McKiernan, who played boyfriends Dino and Rory, reportedly clashed with the show’s bosses claiming they were being paid less. Sources told The Daily Star at the time: “Gary and Damien were confused and hurt when they realised they were getting paid less than the others. When they raised the issue it did not go down very well. “Gary was later told he would only be appearing in one of this year’s Christmas specials. That was the last straw, so he told them he was quitting.” However, Brendan later shut down rumours the actors suddenly left the show over a wages spat. “Some people claimed Gary left because of a row over money but it wasn’t true,” he told Dublin Live. HEALTH ISSUES Actor Dermot, left, battled cancer and sadly lost his wife Credit: Graeme Hunter / BBC Studios / BOC Brendan needs immediate surgery forcing him to cancel this year’s Christmas Special Credit: PA Actor Dermot O’Neill, who plays Harold “Grandad” Brown in Mrs Brown’s Boys, also battled cancer in 2009 – though thankfully was given the all clear in 2020. The star later suffered more heartache when his beloved wife Chickie died in June this year after it was revealed she had terminal cancer. Then today it was revealed that the Christmas Special has been cancelled this year, due to Brendan’s health. In a statement released, the comedian said: “It is with sincere regret I must announce that due to an unexpected medical issue I will have to cancel the recordings of the 2026 Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas and New Year’s Specials. “Following a CT Scan, it was found that I had two fractures in my mandible (jaw) which requires immediate surgery and a few months recovery. “I am talking with the BBC about getting Mrs Brown’s Boys back on the screen in 2027. “I will sadly have to postpone both the 3 Arena Dublin and Gleneagle Arena Shows ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Panto?’ which were scheduled for later this year. “ The star also revealed in his statement he hoped to be back again next year. TAX SCANDAL Another issue that has plagued the BBC comedy was a tax scandal. In 2018, three of the show’s stars, including Brendan’s daughter Fiona Delany, were accused of putting more than £2million into an offshore tax-avoidance scheme, Defending them, Brendan said at the time: “They did nothing illegal. They did absolutely nothing illegal. “Here’s the big thing: Close the f*****g loophole. It’s that simple. Close the f*****g loophole. It must be facilitating something.” Comment now