Brendan O’Carroll, creator and lead actor of Mrs Brown’s Boys, has expressed regret and apologised for a poorly received joke that subtly hinted at racial undertones. The incident occurred during rehearsals of the forthcoming Christmas and New Year’s Day episodes of the well-loved BBC show. It led to a temporary halt in the practices at the Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow, as reported first by The Mirror.
In a statement reflecting on the controversial joke, O’Carroll stated, “In the persona of Agnes, an attempt at humour somehow suggested a racial term. The joke was poorly judged, it upset some people, and for that, I offer my sincere apologies”.
The BBC commented generally on the situation, but not on the individual involved, stating, “The BBC does not tolerate any kind of racism. Stringent measures are employed to deal with any such issues should they arise”.
Famously, Mrs Brown’s Boys has been a staple on Christmas schedules for over ten years. Last year saw a return to the sitcom’s mini-series format – the first since 2013.