The return of Mrs Brown's Boys for its New Year's Day special has ignited a storm of viewer complaints, with many calling for the BBC to axe the long-running sitcom. The broadcast, which followed a Christmas Day episode, prompted an immediate and fierce reaction on social media as audiences voiced their displeasure.
Audience Exodus and Plummeting Ratings
The backlash comes against a backdrop of declining viewership for the show's festive specials. The 2025 Christmas Day episode failed to break into the top 10 most-watched programmes, attracting a modest audience of just 1.6 million. This marks a significant drop from the 2.2 million viewers who tuned in for the 2024 special, and a dramatic fall from the show's peak in 2013, when its inaugural Christmas special commanded a massive 11.5 million viewers.
The New Year's Day plot, which saw Agnes (played by Brendan O'Carroll) and the gang bracing for an incoming storm while Buster prepared for a parachute jump, did little to win over critics. Within minutes of the episode starting, viewers flocked to platform X to express their frustration.
A Torrent of Social Media Criticism
The online reaction was swift and largely scathing. One viewer posted a direct demand: "GET MRS BROWN'S BOYS AXED." Others criticised the production quality, with one noting that shots of character Cathy appeared blurred, comparing the experience to "watching on VHS." The show's humour was also a major point of contention.
"Unfunny drivel," declared one social media user, while another offered a more blunt assessment. A particularly cutting remark compared the special unfavourably to a night of goalless football draws on Match of the Day, suggesting the latter would be "more entertaining." Discontent also lingered from the Christmas broadcast, with one viewer claiming the BBC had witnessed "the biggest switch off in their history" when that special aired.
Divided Audience: A Festive Staple or Time to Change Channel?
Despite the wave of negativity, the show retains a loyal fanbase who rushed to its defence. Supporters argued that Mrs Brown's Boys remains "a staple of Christmas and New Year's TV." Some even praised the New Year special for its improved special effects compared to the Christmas episode.
The debate grew heated, with advocates telling critics to simply switch channels if they didn't enjoy the programme. One supporter retorted online, "If you don't like it, change the f***ing channel and move on. Stop ruining it for the people who enjoy it." This highlights the deep divide the comedy continues to create among the British viewing public.
The Mrs Brown's Boys New Year Special is currently available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer, leaving it to audiences to decide which camp they fall into. The intense reaction and falling ratings, however, pose serious questions about the future of the BBC's once-ratings juggernaut as a festive television fixture.
