Brendan O’Carroll, the creator, writer, and star behind the global phenomenon Mrs Brown’s Boys, has opened up in a rare and candid Christmas interview about the future of his beloved sitcom and his lingering hope that the BBC will resurrect his short-lived but wildly popular chat show, simply titled “Brendan O’Carroll’s Chat Show.” Speaking from his Dublin home just days before Christmas 2025, the 70-year-old comedian admitted that after more than a decade of playing Agnes Brown, he is finally beginning to feel the pull of retirement—yet he remains fiercely protective of the character and the world he built around her.

Mrs Brown’s Boys first exploded onto television screens in 2011 with a Christmas special that quickly became a festive staple. What started as a live-audience sitcom blending slapstick, catchphrases, and fourth-wall-breaking humor grew into a cultural juggernaut: multiple Christmas specials, live tours, feature films, and a devoted fanbase that spans generations. The show’s unique blend of old-school variety comedy and modern self-awareness—complete with deliberate mistakes, audience interaction, and O’Carroll’s fearless delivery—made it unlike anything else on British television. At its peak, specials regularly drew audiences of over 12 million, cementing Agnes Brown as one of the most recognizable characters in UK comedy history.

Yet O’Carroll revealed that the long-running success has come at a personal cost. “I love Agnes,” he said, “but I’m 70 now. There’s a part of me that wonders how many more Christmases I can keep putting on the cardigan and the lipstick.” He described the physical and emotional demands of performing the role—particularly in live stage shows and the high-pressure Christmas specials—as increasingly taxing. “The audience expects perfection, and I still want to give them that,” he explained. “But I also want to leave the door open for the right ending—not because I’m forced out, but because it feels right.”

Despite the hints of stepping back, O’Carroll made it clear that Mrs Brown’s Boys is not finished. He spoke warmly about the possibility of a final, definitive special—a “proper goodbye” that would allow Agnes to exit the stage on her own terms. “I’ve always said I’d never let the show just fade away,” he noted. “If we do one more, it has to mean something. It has to feel like the end of the chapter.” He also teased the idea of handing certain creative reins to his son Danny, who has long been involved in writing and producing, suggesting a generational transition rather than a complete end.

The most surprising part of the interview, however, came when O’Carroll turned his attention to the chat show he hosted in 2017–2018. “Say Whatever You Want” was a late-night talk format that allowed O’Carroll to drop the Mrs Brown persona entirely and speak freely on politics, culture, and current events—often with a sharp, unfiltered edge that delighted fans and occasionally ruffled feathers at the BBC. The show ran for two series before quietly disappearing from the schedule, a move many attributed to its occasionally controversial tone and lower-than-expected ratings compared to the sitcom juggernaut.

“I miss it,” O’Carroll admitted. “I miss being able to sit down with people and just talk—no script, no filter, no ‘Mrs Brown’ voice. I want to be free to speak again.” He revealed that he has repeatedly pitched the idea of reviving the format, either as a one-off special or a limited run, but so far the BBC has not committed. “Christmas is coming,” he said with a wry smile, “and all I want is for someone at the BBC to say, ‘Go on, Brendan—say whatever you want.’ Just once more.”

The interview struck a chord with longtime fans who have watched O’Carroll evolve from a struggling stand-up comic in the 1980s to one of the most bankable names in British comedy. His journey has not been without controversy—some critics have labeled Mrs Brown’s Boys old-fashioned or overly reliant on innuendo—but its enduring popularity speaks to a hunger for warm, unpretentious humor that feels like family entertainment. O’Carroll has always defended the show’s simplicity: “People want to laugh. They don’t always want to think. Sometimes they just want to feel at home.”

As he approaches what may be the final act of his career, O’Carroll remains philosophical. He spoke about the importance of legacy—not just in comedy, but in family. His wife Jenny, sons Danny and Eric, and daughter Fiona have all worked on Mrs Brown’s Boys in various capacities, turning the show into a true family business. “I’ve been very lucky,” he reflected. “I got to make people laugh for a living, and I got to do it with the people I love most. That’s enough for any man.”

Whether Mrs Brown’s Boys ends with one last Christmas special, or “Say Whatever You Want” gets a revival, one thing is certain: Brendan O’Carroll will not fade quietly. At 70, with his trademark mischievous grin and unmistakable Dublin accent, he is still writing his own ending—one laugh, one conversation, one Christmas special at a time.

For millions who grew up hearing Agnes shout “That’s nice!” or watching Brendan interview guests with fearless candor, the possibility of either—or both—returning feels like a gift. As the festive lights go up and families gather around televisions once again, O’Carroll’s Christmas wish is simple: the freedom to keep creating, keep laughing, and keep talking. In a world that often feels too serious, his voice—whether as Agnes or as himself—remains one of the few that still feels like home.