The BBC's annual festive offering of Mrs Brown's Boys has once again polarised its audience, with the 2025 Christmas Day special triggering an immediate and vocal backlash from viewers on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Festive Furore Over 'Mammy's Bottles'
The episode, titled 'Mammy's Bottles', aired on BBC One on Christmas evening. The 30-minute special saw matriarch Agnes Brown attempt to reunite her family for a festive photograph to 'rediscover the meaning of family'. In typical fashion, the show featured Buster's dramatic Christmas tree reveal and Cathy's anxieties over gift-buying.
However, within minutes of transmission, disgruntled viewers flocked to X to voice their displeasure. One user dramatically claimed: "The BBC have just witnessed the biggest switch off in their history as they announce the Christmas special of #mrsbrownsboys." Another, seemingly disappointed with the BBC's Christmas schedule, posted: "A s*** #eastenders and now #MrsBrownsBoys ? ? ! I'm off to bed!"
A Divided Audience and a Cast Tradition
Reaction was not uniformly negative. While some chose to avoid the programme entirely, others defended it as a highlight of their Christmas viewing. A fan hit back at the critics, stating: "What's with all the people whining about #MrsBrownsBoys? If you don't like it, change the f***ing channel and move on. Stop ruining it for the people who enjoy it." Another viewer conceded that a virtual reality scene involving Granddad was "probably the only funny thing #MrsBrownsBoys has produced in the past decade."
In a fascinating behind-the-scenes detail, the show's lead Brendan O'Carroll revealed he had not seen the finished episode prior to broadcast. He and the entire cast uphold a long-standing tradition of watching it together for the first time on Christmas night. The whole clan, including family members who appear in the series, gather in their nightwear at O'Carroll's Blanchardstown home to view it alongside the nation.
What's Next for Mrs Brown?
This Christmas special follows a fresh series broadcast earlier in 2025 and is not the end of the festive offerings. A further special episode, titled 'Stormin' Mammy', is scheduled to transmit on New Year's Day, January 1. The teaser promises high tensions as Agnes and the gang prepare for an incoming storm, alongside Buster's nervous wait for a birthday parachute jump and a shock for Winnie.
Despite enduring criticism for its old-school slapstick style, O'Carroll maintains that the show's loyal supporters "absolutely love it". The programme remains available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer, ensuring the debate over its place in the Christmas TV lineup is likely to continue.
