Disgruntled viewers have demanded the BBC cancel Mrs Brown's Boys following the New Year's Day special, with many taking to social media to express their frustration at the long-running comedy.
The sitcom, which stars 70-year-old comedian Brendan O'Carroll as the Irish matriarch Agnes Brown, prompted an immediate backlash when it aired on Thursday evening.
For the New Year's special, Agnes, along with family and friends, had to prepare for an incoming storm.
Elsewhere, there was a nervous challenge for Buster (Danny O'Carroll) ahead of a birthday parachute jump, and Winnie (Eilish O'Carroll) received some shocking news.
BBC Mrs Brown's Boys: Brendan O'Carroll returned as Agnes
|BBC
Sadly for the show's creators, cast, and crew, the comedy appeared to fail to ring in the New Year with the laughs among viewers watching at home.
Taking to X during and after the instalment, complaints rained in about the annual special, with much of the frustration being aimed towards the show's jokes and contents.
"@MrsBrownsBoys maybe time to retire," one X user complained. "Painful to watch, ruined new years day. I watched out of habit #mrsbrownsboys why am I paying a licence? #tvlicence."
"#mrsbrownsboys This is terrible even by their standards," a second echoed, while a third added: "What a load of s***e I cannot wait for this show to be axed #MrsBrownsBoys."
BBC Mrs Brown's Boys: Brendan O'Carroll's comedy has been slammed by viewers
|BBC
Another called for the show's axe: "Honestly, this programme has run its course, seriously not funny anymore with the only comedy being just how bad the acting is! Almost cringeworthy how bad it is."
And a fifth concurred: "@MrsBrownsBoys Stop with the unfunny bulls**t @BBC Cancel now!!!"
However, there were a handful who jumped to the show's defence, with some pointing out that naysayers didn't have to watch. "Amazing episode tonight again! Loved that! #mrsbrownsboys," another fan argued.
A second also defended the programme: "Why do people feel the need to slag @MrsBrownsBoys off every year, don’t like it, don’t watch it, simple.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
BBC Mrs Brown's Boys: The comedy has faced calls to end
|BBC
"There’s people out there like myself who are genuine fans who enjoy. It’s easy viewing half hour escape from the problems in the real world." (sic)
The backlash may not come as a surprise to some, given the programme's audience figures tell a stark story of declining popularity over the past decade.
When the first Christmas special aired in 2013, it attracted 11.5 million viewers, making it one of the BBC's most popular festive shows.
By contrast, the 2025 Christmas Day episode drew just 1.6 million viewers, failing to secure a place among the top 10 most-watched programmes that day.
BBC Mrs Brown's Boys: BBC viewers were unimpressed
|BBC
This represents a substantial drop even from the previous year, when the 2024 Christmas special managed to pull in 2.2 million viewers.
The Christmas Day episode, titled Mammy's Bottles, focused on Agnes gathering her family for a festive photograph.