Third series secured before second has aired

Mrs Brown's Boys has been commissioned for a third series – before the second has even aired.

The bawdy sitcom, starring Brendan O'Carroll as Agnes Brown, returns the BBC One for a Christmas special, with a second series in the New Year.

But the corporation has already ordered another run after the first series proved such a success, attracting up to four million viewers in its post-watershed slot. However critics were much less impressed than viewers.

O'Carroll said of the new commission: ‘What an extraordinary Christmas present.

‘The BBC must be mad! To allow us to dress up and play again is an extraordinary gift and we genuinely don't take it lightly.

‘We're overwhelmed with the support of the audience and hopefully when they see what we've done with the second series they'll see that maybe the BBC is not totally mad.’

BBC One controlled Danny Cohen added: ‘Mrs Brown's Boys is a joyful, laugh-out-loud comedy that I'm delighted to have on BBC One. It's great news for us that we are extending our deal to a third series.’

The series, which stars many of O’Carroll’s actual family, started life as a stage show in Ireland and the North of England.

Published: 23 Nov 2011