The 'worst TV show of all time' returns to BBC One tonight
That may sound dramatic, but one of the most divisive TV series of all time returns tonight after a two-year break from our screens.
So what's the show?
Well, it's Mrs Brown's Boys, of course, a comedy series so reviled by some that they've branded it 'the worst TV show ever made'.
Created by and starring Brendan O'Carroll, Mrs Brown follows the titular 'Agnes Brown,' an interfering old woman who can't help sticking her nose in her friends and family's business.
The show's real schtick, though, is how 'informal' it is, with Carroll regularly breaking the fourth wall, chucking in improvised gags, and leaving in outtakes.
If that sounds like your type of thing, then you can check it out for yourself by tuning into BBC One at 9:30 pm tonight.
A quick warning, though, Mrs brown's Boys has not received good reviews. In fact, that's a bit of an understatement.
The Irish Independent said of the first season that it's the type of show that 'makes you embarrassed to be Irish' while the Daily Record labelled it 'lazy, end-of-pier trash'.
Meanwhile, Metro (that's us) wrote that the BBC should 'hang its head in shame' for broadcasting it.
If you think critics have warmed to it since then, then you'd be mistaken. In a review of the season starting tonight, Pat Stacey of the Irish Independent claimed it feels like Brendan O'Carroll is 'taking the p*ss out of viewers' with how lazy the show is.
Critics aren't the only ones to loathe Mrs Brown and her boys either. On a tweet celebrating the launch of the new fifth season, several people have made their displeasure known.
@JohnThwaites10 askedwho the show is made for, adding 'I don't know anyone who enjoys watching this?'Kelvin
@KelvinEHughes felt similarly, adding 'I don't know a single person who watches it, let alone enjoys it. How on earth does it keep getting recommissioned?'
It was @SkylarSkye14 who was the most withering, however, when they declared it the 'worst show of all time'.
Our Deputy TV editor Tom Percival shares his thoughts…
I do not enjoy Mrs Brown's Boys. Now, I should caveat that by saying I've only ever seen one episode and D' Movie (don't ask), so maybe it gets better.
Still, the broad humour, creaky gags and funny wigs just weren't for me, and I found it painfully unfunny.With that in mind, though, I don't really get the hate.
There have been plenty of bad sitcoms over the years, and to my mind, Mrs Brown's Boys is no worse than the likes of Miranda, Not Going Out or Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
Are these bad shows? Maybe ? Maybe not ? They just don't work for me, and I don't waste my energy thinking about things I don't enjoy.
Honestly, I think moaning about Mrs Browns Boys is a bit like watching a bin fire and complaining about the smell. No one's forcing you to watch it…
Despite the outburst of hate online, it's worth noting that Mrs Brown's Boys remains popular (That's why it keeps getting recommissioned @KelvinEHughes).
At the height of its popularity, the show regularly brought in 9 million viewers an episode, and its 2013 Christmas special was watched by 11.52 million viewers. More Trending
While its viewing figures have declined, its most recent Christmas special drew in 3,875,000 viewers, putting it ahead of the Masked Singer, Weakest Link, Bake Off and Channel 4's Big Fat Quiz Of The Year.
It is also worth noting that it won a TV Choice Award for Best Comedy in 2024. This isn't an award given out by a body of critics or journalists either; it's voted on by the public, so clearly there are people out there who do enjoy it.
People like Todd and Mark Wilson-Edwards, who wrote in their Google review, 'This show is one of the best that I have seen in a long time! As screwed up as the world is right now, it is nice to slip away into Mrs Brown's Boys world, where I can laugh until I cry!'
View More »
Mrs Brown's Boys returns tonight on BBC One at 9:30 pm.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Dragons' Den stars reject 12-year-old entrepreneur who's changing children's lives
MORE: The completely free streaming service that 'rivals Netflix' with 30,000 titles
MORE: UK viewers can now watch 'gripping' movie about jaw-dropping true story for free
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Attenborough gives 'family feels' in new show Parenthood
Sir David Attenborough's latest BBC One series documents how parents from across the animal kingdom sacrifice everything in order to raise their in the case of the African social spiders, in Namibia, it is quite literally the final we discover in Parenthood, the mother spider gives her life for her spiderlings, who, when the time is right, slowly but surely creep up on her and their other elderly relatives en masse and eat them alive... making room for the new as matriphagy, for director Jeff Wilson this moment provided the scene for "the perfect natural history sequence", as well as "the best narration I've ever heard him [Sir David] do.""David knows exactly what is needed to tell the story," says Wilson."It's a story about the ultimate commitment of a parent. How far do you take your parenting commitment?"I'm not asking any human parents to go that far," he clarifies. "But we all know that if you turn up at the school gates without a snack that you're verging on being eaten by your child anyway!"So there's a damn good lesson in that." 'Amazed with the wonder' Capturing such a scene in a "non-intrusive way" requires a huge collaborative effort from a top team of scientists and cinematographers, he adds."The spiderlings are about the size of a grain of sugar, and the adults are about the size of your thumbnail. So it's a very small world that you're in."Wilson warns viewers will be left "shivering with disgust" while also "amazed with the wonder of it all". Parenthood - not to be confused with the 1989 Steven Martin family comedy film - mines the rich well of universal truisms around parenting, he notes, something that lends itself nicely to realised the unique angle of exploring parenting in the wild had potential, after previously working with Sir David on another BBC and Silverback Films collaboration called The Mating filmmaker was "inspired" by observing "how adaptable other parents" in the wild are, and how alive they are to changes in the natural he went looking - in jungles, grasslands and oceans - across six continents for where more "lessons could be learned" about parental change, dedication and ingenuity."The world is changing for everybody really quickly," he stresses, with a nod to the serious threats caused by climate change. "We wanted to tap into that idea that there is an uncertain future for both animals and humans."How do we adapt to a world that is changing around us? It's so relevant to all of us."He continues: "As a parent myself I constantly worry, what is the world that my children are going to grow up in?" Aside from the heroically maternal spiders, other potential breakout viral stars of this series include:Orangutans who spend up to a decade teaching and showing their young various behaviours and foodsBoxer crabs which clone an anemone underwater to protect their young, creating weapons so they can protect themselves from predatorsElephant mothers navigating unpredictable waterways with their babies, and the challenges they face to keep their family alive during droughts, deluges and flash floodsAn old fish which climbs waterfalls to build nests for its young, while being overtaken by younger, fitter malesA poison dart frog father who carries his tadpoles on his back – one-by-one - up huge trees, from pools on the rainforest lawns to much safer and better ones on the treetops. "It's like watching [US rock climber] Alex Honnold free solo," jokes Wilson As hi-tech, close-up images draw us into their worlds, their stories are also driven along in dramatic, heart-rending fashion by a bittersweet musical score courtesy of British composer Tom Howe (who also worked on Mulan and Ted Lasso).The series also includes a theme song by Sam Ryder, recorded at Abbey Road, which Wilson hopes will become a of which brings us back to the show's famous narrator, Sir David, who - at 99 years old - is still providing "special" and "unique" TV moments, his director tell always in no more than two takes."There can be very few people on Earth who have the ability to communicate to an audience from two [years old] to 102, and feel like they're communicating it at their level," says Wilson, who is also series producer."And that's not [just] Sir David as we see him on screen, that's Sir David in real life."He continues: "When you're working with a partner who understands the natural world as well, if not better than you do, that's always exciting." 'Relatable parental dilemmas' Wilson is proud to have been involved in creating what he calls a "generational gift" that parents like him can watch and learn from, alongside their own children."I think it's got all the feels; it's got great behaviour, it's got great emotion, it's got great humour, it's got relatable parental dilemmas."And it has a nod and a wink towards 'helicopter parenting' and 'snowplow parenting' - all those different terms that we bandy about as to what type of parent you are."He's equally pleased with having delicately explored "perhaps the most sensitive relationship that is present in the natural world" - that between a parent and their capture that, he explains, relies on "absolutely top class field work", patiently watching and getting shots in "an observational, non-invasive way.""You have that extra challenge in parenting," he says. "It's less hard if you're covering a hunt, as more often than not, the animals couldn't care less whether you're there because they're in the zone."But in parenting behaviours, you're dealing with something that's very sensitive, and if you get it wrong, you're stepping over a line that you shouldn't."So we're very proud of what we've put on screen in that way."During one such scene, Sir David's famous voice is heard declaring: "Success for all parents has perhaps the greatest of consequences… It ensures the future of life on our planet."In other words: respect your which has five episodes, begins at 19:20 BST on Sunday 3 August on BBC One and iPlayer.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Snoop Dogg wants Oasis ticket for Scotland show as "that's my place and they are my people"
The US rapper famously loves Scotland and is also friends with Liam and Noel Gallagher, so is hoping they send him a ticket for Murrayfield. Snoop Dogg has vowed to come to Scotland next week if Oasis will send him a ticket to one of their sold out Murrayfield gigs. Liam and Noel are due to bring their sell-out reunion tou r to Edinburgh on Friday, Saturday and next Tuesday. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail, Snoop, a huge fan of the band and friend of the Gallaghers, said: 'As soon as I heard they were making a comeback I knew I wanted to come and see them, and lets be real where else is Snoop gonna watch them than Scotland. "That's my place and they are my people. 'There is not long to go until they are in Scotland now – but if the boys send me tickets I am there. "It's a plane journey away – I can be in Scotland in no time. I will clear my schedule and make sure I am there.' Snoop also urged the brothers to get back into the studio and write a new album together rather than just playing their old favourite hits. He added: 'You know real music is not made the way it was used to – that's why it is so important bands like Oasis make a comeback. "This tour has seen huge demand – now my boys Noel and Liam have put their differences aside we got to hope they make some new music when they are done with this tour.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Snoop, 53, has been in Scotland several times and is a diehard Celtic fan. We previously revealed how he wanted to take a few Hoops stars to the Oasis gig. He said: 'People know I never need an excuse to come visit Scotland but yeah for real. 'I tried to sign Noel back in 2009 when he had left Oasis, it just never quite happened – but the main thing is they have got back together. "If my boy Noel is going to hook me up with tickets it would be cool if a couple of the Celtic players could also come.' Around 200,000 fans are set to descend on Edinburgh over three days. Oasis kicked off their highly anticipated reunion tour in Cardiff last month – walking on to the stage together for the first time since breaking up 16 years ago.
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
BBC drama series praised as 'absolute perfection' by fans arrives on Netflix this weekend
One of the most raved about series of the 2020s is making its way onto Netflix this weekend and fans cannot wait. One of the most praised and gripping series that took the world by storm a few years ago is making its long awaited debut on Netflix this weekend. Normal People, the BBC drama that has been hailed by fans as a "masterpiece," will officially be available to stream from Sunday, August 3. Originally released in 2020 on BBC iPlayer, the 12-part series quickly became a cultural phenomenon, drawing both widespread critical acclaim and a passionate fanbase. Now, Netflix audiences will finally have the chance to revisit, or discover for the first time, the emotional and deeply affecting story that captivates the world. Adapted from Sally Rooney's best-selling novel, Normal People follows the intense and evolving relationship between two Irish teenagers, Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan, as they navigate the complexities of love, class and identity from their school days in Sligo to their university years in Dublin. The series spans more than a decade, following the main characters from their teenage years into adulthood. At the start Connell is the well-liked, quietly intelligent student while Marianne is the wealthy but socially isolated girl whose home Connell's mum cleans. When their paths cross again at university, the dynamic between them has shifted. Marianne has grown into herself, while Connell struggles to find his place, but despite these changes, the deep connection they share continues. As their relationship weaves in and out of romantic and platonic territory, the series earned widespread praise for its raw and honest portrayal of themes such as male mental health, sexuality and the emotional complexities of "friends with benefits" relationships. The show was an instant hit, and boosted the careers of Paul Mescal who plays Connell and Daisy Edgar-Jones who plays Marianne. Mescal went on to star in Gladiator II, and is playing Paul McCartney in the upcoming Beatles biopics, while Daisy has since starred in Where the Crawdads Sing and Twisters. The duo's chemistry and acting skills earned the show raving reviews with fans calling it a "masterpiece." Following the show's initial success on BBC iPlayer, Normal People received raving reviews and an impressive 91% Rotten Tomatoes score. Writing on Rotten Tomatoes, one fan of the series described Normal People as "deeply moving" expressing that the series "stayed with them long after watching." As another fan stated: "Real, raw and vulnerable. This highly emotional show had me hooked from the beginning." While other viewers added that the show is an "Irish masterpiece," and "absolute perfection." Another viewer praised the actors performance, writing: "Beautifully filmed with a great music score and pulled together by two extraordinary performances by Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. You felt every moment with the characters and at the end you just want to go back and watch it all over again." Viewers will be able to watch Normal People on iPlayer from Sunday, August 3, on Netflix.
