Brendan O’Carroll has announced that he is getting urgent surgery on his jaw and has cancelled the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas and New Year’s specials.
The creator and star of the show, 70, announced in a statement that the beloved sitcom’s festive shows would not be going ahead as he required “immediate surgery”.
He wrote: “It is with sincere regret I must announce that due to an unexpected medical issue I will have to cancel the recordings of the 2026 Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas and New Year’s Specials.
“Following a CT Scan, it was found that I had two fractures in my mandible (jaw) which requires immediate surgery and a few months recovery.”
He also announced that he would have to postpone his Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Panto? shows in Dublin and Killarney, which were scheduled for later this year.
“This decision has not been taken lightly and has been made on medical advice from my consultant,” he said.
“To say I am heartbroken is an absolute understatement.
“I would like to sincerely apologise to all our fans who were looking forward to seeing the shows and for any disappointment caused.”
The comedian and actor said he and MCD Productions were currently working to reschedule the shows for 2027.
O’Carroll went on to write that he had also been speaking with the BBC about getting his TV series “back on the screen” in 2027.
He then thanked MCD and the BBC for their “support and understanding at this difficult time”.
O’Carroll said he was now focused on getting himself “back to full health”, adding: “I genuinely cannot wait to see you all again in 2027.
“Our fans mean the world to us, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support and trust me Agnes Brown and her family will be back.”
O’Carroll spoke to The Standard last year on the enduring success of Mrs Brown’s Boys, saying it will remain on television for as long as the BBC wants it.
“As long as the BBC say keep making it I’m going to keep making it,” declared the Irish star.
Asked whether he still enjoys the process after more than a decade on air, O’Carroll was quick to reply: “F*** yeah! People ask me when do you start thinking about the Christmas tree? I say January the first, I think about it all year.
“I love the Christmas specials because it’s a tradition now and it’s warm and it’s very much a family time and the family are all in the show so it’s good.”
