‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ Star Brendan O’Carroll Says Rory Cowan’s Decision To Quit Show Is Like ‘Ronaldo Leaving United’

Matt Bagwell

‘Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ creator and lead star Brendan O’Carroll has spoken for the first time about Rory Cowan’s decision to quit the hit BBC comedy.

Rory announced he was leaving the show on Monday after performing the final gig on the ‘Good Mourning Mrs. Brown’ tour at London’s o2 arena.

<strong>Brendan O’Carroll has given Rory's decision to leave 'Mrs.Brown's Boys' his blessing</strong> (Photo: BBC)
Brendan O’Carroll has given Rory's decision to leave 'Mrs.Brown's Boys' his blessing (Photo: BBC)

Brendan told The Irish Sun: “To all of us it feels like Ronaldo ­leaving Man Utd. But Ronaldo went on to amazing success which I know Rory will too.

“I can’t even quantify the ­contribution Rory has made to our success and the wellbeing of me and my family, not just on screen or stage but way before that as a friend and a driving force in getting us here. He’s a legend.”

<strong>Rory (left) played Mrs Brown’s son Rory in the BBC sitcom.</strong> (Photo: BBC)
Rory (left) played Mrs Brown’s son Rory in the BBC sitcom. (Photo: BBC)

Rory has insisted he has left the show on good terms with the rest of the cast, revealing he hadn’t been happy for some time.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Rory said: “I hadn’t been happy working for the ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ company for the last 18 months to two years.

“I feel that 26 years is enough so I decided it was time to go.”

He informed lead creator and lead cast member Brendan O’Carroll last month, but was persuaded to stay on until the end of the London O2 shows.

Refusing to be drawn on his reason to quit, Rory continued: “I’m not going into details about why I was unhappy,

“I did the final show [in London], packed my stuff into a small Waitrose plastic bag and just left the venue.”

‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ started life as a stage show, before being picked up by the BBC in 2011.

Its success also led to a spin-off chat show, ‘All Round To Mrs Brown’s’, which aired on Saturday nights earlier this year, following a big-screen outing for the gang in 2014.

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