Mrs Brown’s Boys star Gary Hollywood says 3Arena stage musical will divide opinion just as much as the TV show

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Gary Hollywood says 3Arena stage musical will divide opinion just as much as the TV show


The actor, 39, also reveals he's never sang on stage before ahead of show coming to Dublin tomorrow

 MRS Brown’s Boys star Gary Hollywood reckons telly viewers either love or hate the show — and a new musical version is going to divide opinion just as much.


Gary is set to star in stage show 


The Glasgow actor will bring his character Dino Doyle to life again for an all singing, all dancing version of the smash-hit show which has conquered the telly and theatre world.
But the 39-year-old — who has played the gay hairdresser since 2000 — admits he has never sang on stage before.

And he reveals he better learn to hold a note soon as creator Brendan O’Carroll is in the final stages of writing the script for Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Musical? which starts at Dublin's 3Arena tomorrow.

Gary says: “It’s like Marmite — because you either like the show or you don’t.

“Thankfully most people I meet are big fans but there is a certain percentage that just don’t get it or don’t like it. I explain to people that if you’re looking for something serious then you’re not going to get that, it’s just a half hour of madness where you can switch off.



Gary plays Dino Doyle in the hit show Mrs Brown's Boys


“Brendan always taught us that critics don’t pay our wages, the punters do. We do it for them.

“With everything going on in the world, sometimes you need to just have a laugh.”

Mrs Brown’s Boys regularly draws in more than 10million viewers and has dominated the telly comedy world since it first aired in 2011.

It also has a host of celebrity fans, including the Queen and Boy George.


Boy George is a fan of the show



Although it started as a theatre show, the success of O’Carroll’s drag persona Agnes Brown has taken the cast and crew all over the world on tour. There was also a feature film which hit cinemas in 2014.

And if the musical is a success, Gary could soon take his singing to the stages of Australia and America as a world tour is also in the works.

But he admits anxiously: “I’m sure I’ll do singing lessons and it will be interesting. I’ve never been in a musical before so this is brand new for me.

“There will be a new script and singing, dancing and choreographers so it’s a bit daunting. But I’ll be out there enjoying myself as always.”

And he’ll be practising his crooning by belting out a Scottish anthem.

He said: “My karaoke go-to is 500 Miles by The Proclaimers. I’ve not got the best voice but I think I can hold a tune. It’s a real change and will challenge us all. It keeps us all on our feet and since it’s something fresh we will need to step up to the plate. We are all on the sidelines right now wondering what Brendan has actually written for us.


Gary with co-stars Brendan O’Carroll and Rory Cowan

“I do know it will have all the usual craziness and, knowing Brendan like I do, I’m sure it will surprise everyone.”

Gary admits he’s living the good life after moving to Lanzarote four years ago with his missus Cherylanne McCutcheon. It’s a world away from his childhood home in Pollok where he broke into acting at the age of 12 after landing a role in Taggart.

He later starred in soap Take the High Road as teen Dominic Dunbar before Brendan O’Carroll changed his life when they met during panto at the Glasgow Pavilion in 2000.

The actor will return to Scotland in February to film the new season of All Round to Mrs Brown’s before heading to Dublin afterwards to begin rehearsals for the musical.

And he admits he’s had the best job in the world for the last 18 years.

Gary says: “I was 21 when I joined with Brendan and we’ve all grown together and enjoyed the success. It’s like one big family and we all look after one another and have each other’s back.

“When I meet people new to the show I tell them how it all started in theatre and then we went to telly and it surprises folk because it’s usually the other way around.

“It’s been a great journey and as an actor to be in work for 18 years — that is something else.”

Despite moving to the Canaries, Gary still tries to get back home as much as he can, travelling back to Glasgow to see parents John and Betty regularly.

But he won’t move back permanently any time soon.


Musical is taking place before Xmas episode of show airs

He says: “It’s December and it’s sitting at 22 degrees. I can’t complain because I have a nice life and nice circle of friends here.

“And since moving abroad I’ve never seen so much of my family because they are always here on wee holidays.

“Our house is up in the hills so has a nice view looking down on the village.

“What I enjoy most is that I have the best of both worlds. I can work for a few months non-stop then come here and chill.

“And being further away makes me enjoy going home so much more.”

But being overseas doesn’t stop Gary getting lots of attention from fans of the show.

Even Spaniards are watching the programme and loving it. It joins other countries like Iceland and South Africa as unlikely hotspots for fans of Mrs Brown’s Boys.

Gary says: “It’s very interesting and with it being a tourist island I’m on, it’s amazing to meet so many people who absolutely adore the show.
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