'This is unbelievable'

The BBC has confirmed that Mrs Brown’s Boys will return for a second series.

The critically-panned programme has been recommissioned for BBC One later this year, after attracting more than 3 million viewers.

Writer and star Brendon O’Carroll said: ‘This is unbelievable! I'm just thrilled that the BBC continues to have confidence in the show.

‘The support we have had from all involved f makes us just so excited to get back there and do it all again. Producer Stephen McCrum promised me that he would be faithful to the stage show and he has gone beyond this in making the show the success it is. I am living the dream.’

The six-part series, produced in Glasgow by the BBC’s in-house comedy department, was based on O’Carroll’s sell-out theatre show. And on screen it attracts an almost 30 per cent higher audience than BBC One’s average for that 10.35pm slot .

Critics have hated the show. Only today the Metro’s TV reviewer derided it as ‘infantile, talent-deficient, entirely unfunny programme’ that is ‘genuinely the worst thing on TV, possibly ever’.

However BBC One controller Danny Cohen said: ‘Mrs Brown has been a big hit with BBC One viewers. It's a laugh-out loud funny show with wonderful performances at its heart.'

Comedy commissioning controller Cheryl Taylor added: ‘Brendan O'Carroll and his irrepressible alter ego Agnes Brown have lit up Monday nights for the past few weeks and, despite the rarefied language, the warmth of this series and the laugh-out loud comedy antics have proved a huge hit with BBC One viewers.  We're delighted that Agnes and her wonderful family will be returning later in the year.’

The show features many members of O’Carroll’s family: His real-life wife Jennifer Gibney plays daughter Cathy, his daughter Fiona is Maria, his son Danny s Buster, and his sister Eilish is Winnie McGoogan.

Mrs Brown’s Boys is also a huge hit in Ireland, where it is the most-watched TV show.

Published: 22 Mar 2011