Brendan O'Carroll's Christmas is tinged with sadness

Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll has revealed why Christmas is tinged with sadness for him.

The Irish star is once again going to be on Irish screens as Agnes Brown over the festive season, with the Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special airing on December 25. 

Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll has revealed why Christmas is tinged with sadness for him and his family. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

'I always try to reflect that in the message at the end of the show. This year, her message is, "Christmas is a wonderful time, but it can be a lonely time as well, so go into your contacts and pick somebody that you haven't talked to in a long time. Pick up the phone and say 'Merry Christmas",' he said.

The festive period isn't always easy for Brendan as he misses his late son, who passed away in 1979, and his  mum Maureen.

He told the RTE Guide: 'Whether it's my mum, or my son, or [his wife] Jenny's dad, there is not a Christmas that goes by where we don't raise a glass to those who aren't here and it's a horribly melancholy moment.

'We think about them all the time, but it is that particularly stark thing at Christmas where your mam is not sitting across from you at the table.

'I really understand that Christmas is a wonderful time, it really is, but for so many people they are not looking forward to it. It is very hard.'

Despite it being a day of reflection, Brendan admitted that 'Christmas just seems to be magic' no matter what he's going through.

You know that once you get to Christmas everything is going to be okay,' he added.

With the big day fast approaching, Brendan gave an insight into how he and his beloved family spend the holidays together every year.

'We have a pyjama party on Christmas night. All the family, any cast and crew that are about. They all get into their pyjamas, and they come and watch Mrs Brown's Boys in our house with a few drinks. For us, it is the first time we have seen it,' he said.