BBC bosses launched an investigation after Brendan O’Carroll, who plays Agnes Brown in the hit sitcom, ‘implied’ a racist term during a read-through for the show’s Christmas special
The racist ‘joke’ told by Mrs Brown’s Boys star and creator Brendan O’Carroll has been revealed following a BBC probe.
It’s been reported that the Irish comic ‘implied’ the N-word during rehearsals for the BBC comedy’s upcoming Christmas special. O’Carroll, in character during a script read-through, is said to have quipped: “I don’t call a spade a spade, I call a spade a…”
The Daily Mail claims the actor then started to utter the N-word before he was stopped by a co-star also in character. In a statement shared with the publication on Tuesday night, a representative for O’Carroll said: “We would also like to clarify that the “n” word was absolutely not spoken, it was implied. Agnes (Mrs Brown) began the word but was stopped from finishing it by her daughter Cathy, as she knew she would be.”
O’Carroll, who plays foul-mouthed matriarch Agnes Brown in the controversial series, apologised on Monday night for making a racist remark which sparked a BBC probe. The BBC temporarily paused rehearsals to investigate the incident, which have since resumed in Glasgow at the broadcaster’s Pacific Quay studios in Scotland – with shows going ahead as planned, as first reported by the Mirror newspaper.
The actor released a statement explaining: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, in the character of Agnes, where a racial term was implied,” as exclusively revealed by the Mirror. O’Carroll finished with a statement of regret: “It backfired and caused offence which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.” Adding to the discourse, a BBC spokesperson stated: “Whilst we don’t comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism, and we have robust processes in place should issues ever arise.”
It was reported on Tuesday night that a junior member of the production team was left so ‘upset’ over the comic’s racist jest that they walked out on the show on the spot. An insider revealed that the BBC sitcom staffer was so shocked by the ‘gag’ that they opted not to return.
“Virtually everyone in the room on the day that the outburst happened were shocked, but the reading continued for some time without anyone saying or doing anything as they were so stunned,” they told The Sun. “One member of the production team in particular was upset by what came out of his mouth and it was quickly reported to the bosses. There was no excuses for what he said or any kind of context or mitigation he could provide for making the slur, he just seemed to think it was amusing,” the insider continued.
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