BBC commissions two more Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas specials after ratings triumph

L-R Grandad Brown (DERMOT O'NEILL), Mark Brown (PAT SHIELDS), Cathy Brown (JENNIFER GIBNEY), Betty Brown (AMANDA WOODS), Agnes Brown (BRENDAN O'CARROLL), Dermot Brown (PADDY HOULIHAN), Maria Brown (FIONA O'CARROLL), Rory Brown (RORY COWAN), Buster Brady ( (BBC)

BBC bosses have commissioned a further pair of Christmas specials for ratings hit Mrs Brown's Boys.

The near-the-knuckle comedy is fresh from its success at the National Television Awards last week when it was named best sitcom, beating Absolutely Fabulous and Benidorm.

The BBC screened two editions of the show over the recent festive period which drew an average of 15 million listeners, including time-shift and iPlayer viewing.

Mrs Brown's Boys - created by and starring Irish comic Brendan O'Carroll as matriarch Agnes Brown - is currently in its third series on BBC1.

Station controller Danny Cohen said: "I'm absolutely delighted to confirm that Mrs Brown's Boys will be spending Christmas 2013 on the channel with two special episodes."

O'Carroll said: "It's a great privilege to be invited into people's homes at such a magical time of year."

PA