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Mrs Brown's Boys Russia deal scrapped over gay character

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

From Digital Spy

A deal to air Mrs Brown's Boys in Russia was rejected by creator Brendan O'Carroll because they wanted to cut out a gay character.

The actor and creator of the show explained how they were close to securing a deal in the country, though he drew the line when they didn't want to include gay character Rory.

"They didn't want any gay, Russia in particular," O'Carroll told RTE Radio 1 (via Metro).

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

"It was a nice little deal, it's a big country so the fee you'd charge for the licensing is audience-related, so it's a big audience and it would have been a nice fee.

"But no gay, absolutely no gay. So I said, 'no gay, no show'. And that was it."

He also revealed how Romania wanted to do the same, though managed to come around to not cutting Rory out.

"Romania threatened [to cut the gay character out], but then went ahead with it," O'Carroll continued.

Photo credit: BBC/Alan Peebles
Photo credit: BBC/Alan Peebles

"What they've done is, the Rory character is the Rory character and he's still gay, but they never mention that he's gay. But it's still Rory."

O'Carroll added: "The comedian that does Mrs Brown in Romania, he doesn't even bother trying to put on a voice!"

Earlier this year, Rory actor Rory Cowan left Mrs Brown's Boys, revealing that he "hadn't been happy" on the show.


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