Mrs Brown’s Boys star Brendan O’Carroll has shared his surprise after Irish broadcaster RTE announced it will not broadcast its traditional live Christmas Eve show from Dublin’s Grafton Street, which he usually co-hosts
Brendan O’Carroll has expressed his bewilderment at a broadcaster’s choice to scrap its live Christmas Eve programme.
The Mrs Brown’s Boys star typically co-presents the live transmission from Dublin’s Grafton Street alongside Liveline presenter Joe Duffy.
During the show, they chat with shoppers and give members of the public the chance to send messages to loved ones tuning in from across the globe.
Nevertheless, Joe stepped down from his role earlier this year, with Kieran Cuddihy stepping into his shoes.
RTÉ has now chosen not to broadcast live from the capital this year citing “operational reasons” but maintains the programme will make a comeback in future, reports the Mirror.
Speaking to The Irish Sun, Brendan revealed: “It’s certainly not a decision I would make. I really am surprised RTE aren’t doing the show on Grafton Street this year.
“It would have been the declaration of the definitive handing over from Joe Duffy to Kieran Cuddihy and I’m sure Kieran would have been well able for it.
“So I’m bemused RTE are not doing it, and I’m also sad for the people who won’t be able to tune in, just to hear a little bit of home.
“You’d have people listening in most years from Australia, New Zealand, even as far away as Argentina. That’s not happening this year.”
RTÉ has also chosen not to air Shedites, a fresh comedy drama from Brendan’s BOC Productions and BBC Studios, which will be shown as part of a double bill with Mrs Brown’s Boys on BBC One this New Year’s Day.
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website** Brendan has been delighting audiences as Agnes Brown for 15 years on the most-watched TV night of the year, with his contract set to run until 2026.
The Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas special will air on RTE1 at 9.05pm on Christmas night and at 10.15pm on BBC One.
Despite some critics not being fans of the show’s old-fashioned slapstick humour and jokes, Brendan insists that the viewers adore it.
Interestingly, he hasn’t yet seen this year’s episode, and like every other year, the first time he and the rest of the cast will watch it is on Christmas night.
The entire family, many of whom star in the show, will gather at his and wife Jenny’s home in Blanchardstown, dressed in their pyjamas with the grandchildren, to enjoy the show together on Christmas night.
