BBC comedy show Mrs. Brown’s Boys will be returning for a brand new series despite show star Brendan O’Carroll being forced to apologise over a racial slur.
The Beeb have officially revealed the show will be back for a fifth series set to air later this year.
Filming is expected to kick off in front of a live audience next month in Scotland with tickets already available for those who wish to head along.
A teaser from the BBC read: “Agnes Brown and the gang from Finglas are back!
“Everyone’s favourite Irish Mammy returns for a brand new fifth series featuring all your favourite characters, so get ready for more slapstick shenanigans this spring!”
News of the show’s return comes just months after Brendan O’Carroll was forced to issue a grovelling apology after he cracked a “joke” using the N-word in front of a junior member of production who was so upset they later quit.
Last year, the BBC temporarily halted filming of the show’s Christmas special after Brendan made the attempted gag which he later admitted it had backfired.
The moment occurred when the actor improvised on a read-through of the Christmas special script, referring to “calling a spade a spade”.
He was stopped from saying the final syllable of the offensive word by his wife, Jennifer Gibney, who plays his daughter, Cathy on the show.
A TV insider said: “Virtually everyone in the room on the day that the outburst happened were shocked, but the reading continued for some time without anyone saying or doing anything as they were so stunned.
“One member of the production team in particular was upset by what came out of his mouth and it was quickly reported to the bosses.
“There was no excuses for what he said or any kind of context or mitigation he could provide for making the slur, he just seemed to think it was amusing.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Late Late Show viewers left divided as Brendan O’Carroll has ‘car crash’ interview after controversy” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6364792898112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]An urgent probe was ordered by the BBC and rehearsals for the festive show were temporarily suspended and the cast and crew stood down.
Brendan said of the incident: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, where a racial term was implied.
“It backfired and caused offence, which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.”
The corporation added: “While we don’t comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism and we have robust processes in place should issues ever arise.”
Mrs Brown’s Boys been on TV since 2011 and has won the National Television Award for Best Comedy for the last six years in a row, constantly beating off competition from new, trendier rivals.
