Exclusive: There are claims there has been trouble behind the scenes for quite some time
Actors Gary Hollywood and Damien McKiernan have been dropped from the show (Image: BBC Studios/Alan Peebles)
Mrs Brown’s Boys has been thrown into backstage turmoil as the show faces a pay dispute with some of its stars.
The BBC ratings smash was rocked after actors Gary Hollywood and Damien McKiernan, who play boyfriends Dino and Rory, reportedly complained about wages.
Reports said they discovered they were earning less than their co-stars.
It is understood after Gary stormed out from the BBC show, Damien is said to have been told he has been allegedly axed from the show.
But according to a source close to Glaswegian Gary, 41, the pay issue was only “the last straw”, claiming there has been trouble behind the scenes for quite some time.
The insider told the Irish Daily Mirror: “There’s been an atmosphere at Mrs Brown’s for years and this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. It’s only the first time it’s happened in the public eye.
"The whole point of the show is everyone is a family an ensemble and are equal.
“Everyone is meant to be paid equally on the show, as that’s how it started out in the beginning on stage.
“The issues have been going on for a long time, it’s only now become the final straw.
“After it emerged Gary wasn’t being paid equally, Brendan was challenged and from there, Gary was told he would only appear in one episode on the Christmas special.”
The pay dispute comes during an already challenging year for Gary who has welcomed a baby son and tragically lost his brother.
The source said: “Gary’s had a very tough year losing his brother Gerard to two heart attacks.
“While the birth of his new baby boy Ollie has helped him, it’s been tough going.”
But it now appears Gary is trying to brush off the drama, as he shared a family snap saying: “You’ve got to laugh.”
(Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Alan Peebles)
He finished with the hashtags “sons, wife, all that matters”.
Meanwhile, Damien sparked drama when fans spotted he liked a tweet claiming Brendan O’Carroll, who plays the title role, has got “too big for his boots”.
Work on two festive episodes has started without the pair.
Mr O’Carroll and the BBC refused to comment when contacted by the Irish Mirror.
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