![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_262835318-6d06.jpg\")
\n\t\tTV viewers have taken aim at a comedy series after its latest Christmas special (Picture: Graeme Hunter\/ BBC Studios\/ BOC)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tTV viewers have taken aim at a comedy series after its latest Christmas special (Picture: Graeme Hunter\/ BBC Studios\/ BOC)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s brutally been labelled a \u2018stain on the Christmas TV calendar\u2019<\/a> and now even fans of Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys<\/a> have said they are switching it off.<\/p>\n The divisive series, which first hit screens in 2011, follows the loud-mouthed Irish matriarch Agnes Brown, whose favourite pastime is meddling in the lives of her six children.<\/p>\n Created by and starring Irish comedian Brendan O\u2019Carroll<\/a>, Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys has regularly drawn in millions of viewers and has been a mainstay on the BBC<\/a> \u2013 including each Christmas.<\/p>\n However, the latest festive special was so poorly received, even once passionate fans have now expressed their displeasure.<\/p>\n The synopsis for the latest episode of the long-running series teased: \u2018Mrs Brown rediscovers the meaning of family as she gathers those closest to her together for a Christmas photo.<\/p>\n \u2018Buster unveils another of his signature Christmas trees with maximum impact and Cathy frets about what presents to buy everyone.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t However, in its review, The Independent gave it just one star and said the \u2018excruciating sitcom had plummeted to unimaginable new depths\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s always painful viewing, but the 2025 Christmas special plummets some way beneath the usual low standard to reach fresh, unimaginable depths of unfunniness. So, it\u2019s badder than bad, worse than ever in fact, weaker than the childish riddles that fall out of a cracker.<\/p>\n \u2018I do wonder why the BBC is still buying it with our money, and why O\u2019Carroll and his collaborators\u2019 scripts are still so lazy, this time with scarcely an attempt at a storyline, and the actors so poor,\u2019 it added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile The Irish Times said it was one of O\u2019Carroll\u2019s \u2018flattest festive forays yet\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018There are barely any gags\u2026and the plot is mushier than Brussels<\/a> sprouts that one of your dinner guests has stomped into the carpet. Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys is clearly past its sell-by date.\u2019<\/p>\n Viewers also didn\u2019t hold back when sharing their thoughts on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Do the BBC share how much they pay for this crap??? No wonder people are refusing to pay their licence fee. Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys just isn\u2019t funny anymore,\u2019 Steve posted on X.<\/p>\n However, John responded: \u2018What do you mean \u201canymore\u201d? That implies it was once funny. I\u2019d take exception to that\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n Meanwhile David added: \u2018It has never been remotely funny in the first place.\u2019<\/p>\n Others posted ruthless quips about why they weren\u2019t even bothering to tune in.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019d rather watch reruns of Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s daily Covid<\/a> briefings, that\u2019s what I think about Mrs Browns Boys,\u2019 Duncan declared.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019d imagine it was like having a root canal without any anaesthetic,\u2019 Paz49 shared.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019d rather run a barefoot marathon over Lego<\/a>,\u2019 another added.<\/p>\n However, in an opinion<\/a> piece written for Metro this year, Thomas Horn said Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys \u2018didn\u2019t deserve the hate\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t understand why so many people get so vexed by a sitcom,\u2019 he wrote, adding many people took aim at the series due to \u2018snobbery\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018It can\u2019t just have been my family \u2013 the viewing figures speak for themselves \u2013 which is why the snobbery around the sitcom is so jarring.<\/p>\n \u2018The show\u2019s premise might be silly, and the jokes cheap, but O\u2019Carroll\u2019s humour doesn\u2019t punch down in the nasty way that I believe shows like Little Britain have previously done.\u2019<\/p>\n He concluded: \u2018You can find Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys unfunny, but it\u2019s hard to deny that it has bucketloads of heart. If you don\u2019t like it, it\u2019s probably not for you, and that\u2019s fine. As Mrs Brown would say, you\u2019re welcome to feck off and watch something else.\u2019<\/p>\n In recent years Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys has gone from attracting up to 8.5 million viewers for its Christmas specials to drawing just 1.5 million last year.<\/p>\n However, it will return for another episode on New Year\u2019s Day. The episode synopsis has teased: \u2018Tensions are high as Agnes and the gang prepare for an incoming storm. Buster\u2019s flying high as he nervously awaits his birthday parachute jump. Winnie receives a shock to the system, and a lost Nun looks for help.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t In 2023 O\u2019Carroll defended his show against its critics.<\/p>\n \u2018First of all, I\u2019m well aware that comedy<\/a> is very subjective,\u2019 he told BBC Radio Sounds.<\/p>\n \u2018What some people like, other people just detest. So, I don\u2019t take it too serious.\u2019<\/p>\n He also once said that it was \u2018the fans and certainly not the reviewers\u2019 who had kept the series on air after all these years.<\/p>\n Mrs Brown\u2019s Boys is streaming on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_278182317-f0e0.jpg\")
\n\t\tMrs Brown\u2019s Boys returned to screens overnight (Picture: BBC Studios\/ BOC\/ Graeme Hunter)<\/p>\n![\"PASADENA,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_260828604-60c0.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe series was created by, and stars, Irish comedian Brendan O\u2019Carroll (Picture: Amy Sussman\/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_276768679-f2f6.jpg\")
\n\t\tOne critic said it was \u2018painful viewing\u2019 (Picture: BBC Studios\/ BOC\/ Graeme Hunter)<\/p>\n![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_260828545-af48.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe series has been on air since 2011 (Picture: Graeme Hunter\/ BBC Studios\/ BOC)<\/p>\n