Our take
The lockdown Christmas special, and the first of the show's Christmas Days to deal with the pandemic head on. The Telegraph's Ed Power said it had a serious emotional message to deliver, and the alternative Queen's speech plot gives it one. Its audience, 3.8 million, was the lowest in almost a decade. Whatever you think of the show, the pandemic setting makes it a time capsule of a very strange Christmas.
What happens
It is Christmas once again in the Brown household, and Agnes Brown and her family are trying to get used to the new normal after lockdown. Luckily things have not changed that much: Agnes has a new tree, Grandad has a new complaint, and Buster and Dermot have new jobs helping to raise awareness of the coronavirus. Winnie and Agnes have entered a Radio Times competition to perform an alternative Queen's speech and are waiting to hear whether they have won. They have also been warned to look out for a flasher known as the Knickie Knackie Dickie who has been terrorising households around Finglas. Meanwhile Father Damien is worried he is not getting his Christmas message across, and comes to Agnes for advice.
Can the kids watch it?
Rated 15 by the BBFC for strong language; the swearing and near-the-knuckle innuendo run all the way through, so it is for 15 and over, not a family watch.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Brendan O'Carroll as Agnes Brown
- Jennifer Gibney as Cathy Brown
- Eilish O'Carroll as Winnie McGoogan
- Danny O'Carroll as Buster Brady
- Fiona O'Carroll as Maria Brown
Guest stars
- Amanda Woods as Betty Brown
- Susie Blake as Hillary Nicholson
Writer
- Brendan O'Carroll
Director
- Ben Kellett