Awkward moment BBC boss is asked if he finds Mrs Brown's Boys funny

The BBC's comedy chief Jon Petrie dodged a bullet when he was quizzed about whether he finds the divisive sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys amusing.

Despite the show being a roaring success with audiences, racking up millions of fans, Mrs Brown's Boys has not been everyone's cup of tea, with some BBC viewers slamming it as "drivel" and others pleading they've "suffered enough".

Creator Brendan O'Carroll has famously hit back at detractors with a blunt 'feck off' - borrowing his character Agnes Brown's well-known catchphrase. Now, the spotlight turned to BBC 's Jon Petrie during a Q&A at a BBC showcase comedy event, where he awkwardly sidestepped the question on the show's humour, according to The Telegraph.

The cast of Mrs Brown's Boys

When pressed by a journalist if he thought the show was funny, Petrie reportedly declined to comment, prompting the reporter to suggest: "I'll take that as a 'no', then."

Petrie is said to have simply laughed off the remark. He was at the event alongside Michelle de Swarte, star of an upcoming BBC Three series, who playfully warned him: "This is a trap."

However, later on, Petrie did concede that Mrs Brown's Boys continues to pull in viewers, boasting ratings on par with other BBC hits like Ghosts, Motherland, and Not Going Out, reports the Daily Star.

Launched in 2011, Mrs Brown's Boys quickly became a hit, peaking at 11 million viewers and securing its spot as a festive fixture with Christmas and New Year specials on the BBC. However, its 2023 Christmas special saw a dip to just four million viewers.

The sitcom, which revolves around Agnes Brown and her family in the Republic of Ireland, has enjoyed commercial success despite often being panned by critics. Creator Brendan O'Carroll has previously addressed the divisive nature of comedy, saying: "What some people like, other people just detest. So I don't take it too serious."

The Telegraph reports that when asked at the Soho showcase if he found Mrs Brown's Boys amusing, BBC's Mr Petrie didn't get the chance to elaborate. The BBC highlighted his view of Mrs Brown as an "iconic comedy character".

His statement affirmed: "Mrs Brown's Boys is a Bafta-winning comedy show and one of the BBC's most watched comedies ever. It's made me laugh many times and seeing Mrs Brown's Boys live is an unforgettable experience. I feel very lucky that I've had the chance to witness it and I'm proud to have it in the BBC comedy stable."

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