Our take
A New Year's Day episode with no Christmas in it, filed by the BBC with the 2014 Christmas specials and built around a poker final. The showdown with her old rival is the spine, and a decent one; the alarm system and the chair are pure slapstick. Fans of the rivalry will enjoy it more than anyone after tinsel. It is a decent watch for fans of the long-running feud between the two women, and little else.
What happens
After a spate of burglaries in Finglas, Agnes Brown is determined not to be the next victim. She fits a reinforced steel bolt to her back door and asks Buster Brady to install a state-of-the-art alarm, which has teething problems, not least because Buster gets all his gear off the back of a van. Dermot's hopes are dashed when the bank refuses him a loan to set up his own promotions business, and Agnes decides the only way to raise the 10,000 euros he needs is to win the local poker tournament. That means beating her arch rival and reigning champion, Hillary Nicholson, in the final. Cathy is feeling broody and decides to pursue unconventional means to get pregnant, which leaves Agnes reeling and gives a lovelorn Buster an opening. Meanwhile, Agnes's new chair turns out to be comfier than she could ever have imagined.
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
- Rory Cowan as Rory Brown
Guest stars
- Fiona O'Carroll as Maria Brown
- Gary Hollywood as Dino Doyle
- Susie Blake as Hillary Nicholson
- Amanda Woods as Betty Brown
Writers
- Brendan O'Carroll
- Paul Mayhew-Archer
Director
- Ben Kellett