BRENDAN O’Carroll, the creator of Mrs Brown’s Boys, has issued an apology after making a racist remark that led to an internal BBC investigation.
The 69-year-old comedian used an offensive term during a read-through for the show’s Christmas special, prompting an immediate response from the BBC.
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The incident occurred last week during rehearsals with cast and crew.
Sources revealed those present were shocked by the remark and subsequently raised their concerns with the BBC.
As a result, rehearsals for the Christmas special were temporarily halted while an urgent investigation took place.
Speaking to the Mirror, Brendan has acknowledged the incident, explaining: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, in the character of Agnes, where a racial term was implied.
“It backfired and caused offence which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.”
The BBC responded to the situation by reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy on racism, stating: “While we don’t comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism and has robust processes in place should such issues arise.”
Brendan is the lead star in Mrs Brown’s Boys as well as being the creator of the sitcom.
A source close to the production revealed that the entire cast and crew stood down while the BBC conducted its investigation into the incident.
Rehearsals for the upcoming episode were delayed but resumed after Brendan’s apology.
The incident comes at a challenging time for the BBC, which has recently faced several controversies, including allegations of bullying on Strictly Come Dancing and the fallout from the Huw Edwards scandal.
Despite these challenges, Mrs Brown’s Boys remains one of the broadcaster’s most popular shows, with episodes drawing up to five million viewers.
The Christmas special in question is set to mark a milestone as the show’s 50th episode.
Following its win for Best Comedy at the National Television Awards, Mrs Brown’s Boys is riding high, with the BBC having recently recommissioned the show for a fifth series.
O’Carroll had previously expressed his excitement about the future of the show, saying: “We’re going to film another series in April and May [2025]. It’s lovely to be asked to do another one.”