WITH its old-school gags and stereotyping, Mrs Brown’s Boys is often viewed as the nemesis of woke culture.
But creator Brendan O'Carroll, who also plays the show’s matriarch Agnes Brown, insists they’ve blazed a trail for political correctness.
And as the BBC1 sitcom marks its tenth year on our screens with a Halloween special tonight, he says that’s never changed.
He said: “At the time I wrote the character of Agnes’s gay son, it was a radio series, and it was illegal in Ireland to be gay. So I actually wanted to buck the system.
“And I don’t know where and how you use the pronouns ‘them’ and ‘they’ - but Agnes Brown is gender fluid after all.
“But in all seriousness, its very hard to do a comedy show without offending somebody.”
He isn’t too worried about becoming the latest victim of cancel culture, spurred on by snowflakes on social media
He said: “I must admit I almost want to get cancelled because with all these other things going, I feel a bit left out.
“But if the BBC write their policy on what goes on TV based on what’s said on social media then the BBC have lost a sense of their own being.
“It’s the audience that makes the call - and the best device for cancelling something is the remote control .”
But viewers aren’t switching channels, even after all these years. Millions still tune in for the shows - particularly the Christmas Specials which are ratings hits every festive season.
And Brendan has attracted some surprising fans.
