Gu his millions of fans, Mrs Brown’s Boys is an unlicensed treat.
While some critics see it as funny and tasteful, the sitcom – which stars Brendan O’Carroll as Agnes Brown’s deceptive Irish matriarch – is one of Wales’ biggest success stories. the BBC.
Part of the appeal lies in the knowledge that many of the team are members of the O’Carroll family. But according to one of the former stars, O’Carroll’s clan rule is the show he says is causing a toxic feeling behind the scenes.
Gary Hollywood, who played hairdresser Dino Doyle, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘So much of the show, off screen, is about Brendan’ s own family. It sounds like jobs for the Browns.
While some critics see it as funny and tasteful, the sitcom – which stars Brendan O’Carroll as Irish matriarch Agnes Brown – is one of her biggest success stories. ‘BBC
At times, as the years went on, it felt like it was Mrs Brown ‘s mafia affair, which was sad if you weren’t there. I am afraid of falling out with them, and of course that creates a tense feeling and I find myself walking on eggs. ‘
The show was reportedly thrown into turmoil last month when a bitter series broke out about Hollywood pay. Hollywood was angry after learning that he earns less than the rest of the team.
He is now taking legal action against O’Carroll, the BBC and the TV production company that makes the show, alleging discrimination and unfair breaches.
In papers submitted to an employment tribunal, the Glasgow-based actor says his colleagues were paid 25 per cent less for his role in a talk show spin-off last year’s six-part, All Round At Mrs Brown.
And he says it was released on one of two Christmas specials just days before filming began. Hollywood says when he raised the two issues with O’Carroll, 65, who was born in Dublin, he was told he should be ‘more grateful’.
‘I am deeply hurt by what Brendan has done for me,’ said the 41-year-old from his home in Lanzarote.
‘Reputation and fortune have gone to his head. I worked with him for 20 years … and this was not how I thought my time working on Mrs Brown’s Boys would end. I am devastated. What I have learned is that it is the way or the highway. In my opinion, Brendan has changed so much in recent years since he became richer, famous and powerful.
Gary Hollywood, who played hairdresser Dino Doyle (pictured left with Rory Cowan, pictured above as Rory Brown) told the Post on Sunday: ‘So much of the show, off screen, is about Brendan’ s own family. It sounds like jobs for the Browns
‘When I raised my problems with Brendan, I encountered hostility. I felt like it was bullying… because you can no longer say what you want. I was told that I should be thankful, that I am lucky. ‘
Members of O’Carroll’s immediate family featured in the show include his wife Jennifer, who plays his daughter on screen, Cathy. His sister Eilish O’Carroll features next door neighbor Winnie McGoogan, and his son Danny O’Carroll appears as Buster Brady and daughter Fiona O’Carroll as Maria’s daughter-in-law.
The show was reportedly thrown into turmoil last month when a bitter series broke out about Hollywood pay. Hollywood was angry after learning that he earns less than the rest of the team
Meanwhile, O’Carroll’s real-life husband Martin Delany and Jamie O’Carroll’s grandson are regular characters. While it may be inevitable that a family would work together as an intimate group, Hollywood says it has only made it difficult recently.
‘It used to be that we were all one,’ he explains, ‘but in the years that followed when Brendan became a star like that, things changed dramatically. Before that, I could speak openly – but in later years I was afraid that I might say the wrong thing about someone and that’s it. Brendan’s family is close so I felt like an outsider with them. ‘
Last September, Hollywood left Lanzarote, where he lives with his wife Cherylanne and ten-month-old son Olrant, to quarantine at his parents’ home in Glasgow before filming for a special Christmas.
Motivated by the prospect of returning to work after the pandemic, he was awaiting his contract. But days before filming began he was told he was only taking part in one show.
‘I texted Brendan asking what was going on, saying it wasn’t good enough,’ Hollywood said.
‘I told him if I wasn’t in for two I wouldn’t be in either. I hadn’t earned anything since February and the last message I got back was that I would be ‘lost from it all’ and he wished me a ‘safe flight’.
With fans learning that beloved hairdresser Dino would no longer be taking part in the show, O’Carroll told interviewees that the relationship between the two was ‘friendly’.
He also said that Hollywood decided ‘he wanted to follow his own star and we are very happy for him’, which left Hollywood angry because he says that was the last thing. he wanted.
Moreover, he was still angry because his pay was lost at a quarter for the fourth series of a chat show. He had previously received a text message explaining that it was due to a reduction in the run time of the show.
Hollywood said: ‘The text said it was sent to the entire cast. I could see the logic in there and it wasn’t a problem for me. But then I found out that it was just me who got it, the rest of the team hadn’t reduced their money. ‘
O’Carroll, who left school at 11, is thought to be worth at least £ 10 million and, in 2017, he and his family exploded into seven homes in Florida. It was first launched by Mrs. Brown as part of a radio soap opera based largely on his mother Maureen who raised 11 children on very little income.
Hollywood says it can’t understand why the BBC won’t get involved in the controversy. ‘I think the BBC is scared of Brendan,’ he said.
The BBC, O’Carroll and his company, BOC Productions, declined to comment but it is understood no defense has yet been put in place.