'Mrs Brown's Boys' is odds-on favourite to be the most-watched programme over Christmas

BBC comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys is the odds-on favourite to be the most-watched show of the Christmas holidays.

The polarising comedy, penned by and starring Irish comedian Brendan O’Carroll, will air its annual festive special on Christmas Day.

And bookmaker Coral is already giving it odds of 6/4 on hauling in the biggest audience.

That’s ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, at 2/1, Call The Midwife at 3/1 and EastEnders at 7/2.

O’Carroll’s sitcom has previously scooped millions of viewers on Christmas Day to become the highest-rated show.

“Mrs. Brown’s Boys was a surprise winner of top spot last Christmas Day but it’s back again for more this time and we’re expecting it to prove just as popular,” said Coral’s spokesperson Harry Aitkenhead.

“We make it the favourite to be the nation’s favourite show this year. The BBC had eight of the 10 most watched programmes last year and that gives us a few clues as to where the most watched might come from this year.

“EastEnders is always popular and something like Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Show could pull in a lot of viewers too.”

Last year, the show pulled in 6.8 million viewers – a 32.6 percent audience share – with that number rising to around 9 million including catch-up figures.

O’Carroll has previously said that he’d be prepared to kill his character Agnes Brown off, if popularity or quality begins to wane.

“We are booked to do Christmas specials for the BBC until 2020 but if they go, ‘We are going to drop you as we don’t think it’s strong enough’ then I’d kill Agnes off,” he said earlier this year.

“Our final episode would be the funniest show I’ve ever written for the first 24 minutes. Then the last four minutes would break your f*****g heart.”

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