There was fury across the internet on Tuesday night as Mrs Brown’s Boys won at the National Television Awards.
The Marmite sitcom bagged the Best Comedy prize at the 25th annual ceremony – but there were many viewers left furious after it beat the likes of Fleabag and Derry Girls.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s sitcom became a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic when its second series aired last year, while Derry Girls also became Channel 4′s most popular comedy.
Ricky Gervais’ After Life and fellow Netflix series Sex Education were also nominated in the category after winning huge critical acclaim, following their debuts on the streaming service in 2019.
But it was Mrs Brown’s Boys that triumphed, marking the fifth time it has won the category, despite only airing two festive episodes in the last 12 months.
While the awards are viewer-voted, many believed that the wrong show won…
Despite often topping the ratings, Mrs Brown’s Boys regularly gets a mauling from critics, who have accused it of racism and homophobia.
The show’s creator and star, Brendan O’Carroll recently hit back at the sitcom’s detractors, telling them to “change the fucking channel”.
He told The Sun: “Honestly, I put on my dress and my tits and go out and make people laugh and I come off, take off my dress, take off my tits, get into the shower, come out and as soon as I come out of the theatre, I don’t even think about the show.
“The evidence of four NTA awards means people are not just liking it — they’re actually prepared to stand up and shout it.
He added: “Radio Times named us ‘Sitcom of the Century’. We can only hope nothing good happens in the next eight decades to upset that.”
