Mrs Brown's Boys actor Brendan O'Carroll will never dress as her in public over fears
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Brendan O'Carroll has played Mrs Brown for over a decade - but has never stepped foot in her costume in public. The contentious BBC sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys aired its twelfth Christmas Day special this year, but far fewer people tuned in than usual. The show's ratings have taken a nosedive in recent years amid growing calls for the comedy series to be cancelled.
While its first Christmas Day special drew an impressive 11.5 million viewers in 2013, its 2024 Christmas episode pulled in just 2.2 million. Now, the programme, centred around the meddling Agnes Brown, played by Brendan, seems to be as loathed as it is loved.
In an interview with The Mirror last year, Brendan explained why he dreads dressing up as Agnes. "I don't know how women wear tights, or survive with mammaries. I have a huge admiration for women, honest to God the stuff they have to go through," he said. "And here's the thing.. I can't stand the taste of lipstick. I hate it, it tastes of soap.
"If you watch the show you'll see that I never lick my lips, never. So as soon as the show's over, it all comes off straight away and I put her back in her box." The actor was adamant that no one will ever meet Mrs Brown in person - but why? "Mrs Brown doesn't leave the theatre ever. I've never done a talk show as Mrs Brown, or an interview as her," he said.
"She has nothing to say. What would you ask her? How's the family? I have no inkling to take her onto the street. Everyone will recognise her, Jesus I'd be battered. It's hard enough being Brendan O'Carroll. If it wasn't for me doing Jonathan Ross, no one would know me. And I'd have no problem with that.".
