Mrs Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll says Rory Cowan quitting is ‘like Ronaldo leaving United’
Mrs Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll has opened up about his sadness at a key character quitting.
Actor Rory Cowan has quit the show after 26 years, confessing to being unhappy with his role.
Cowan has appeared in the comedy series as Rory Brown – the third son of Agnes Brow, played by O’Carroll.
Both the character and actor are openly gay.
In an announcement that stunned fans, Cowan revealed he would be leaving the popular BBC and RTE show.
Now show creator O’Carroll has said his quitting is “like Ronaldo leaving United”.
“To all of us it feels like Ronaldo leaving Man Utd. But Ronaldo went on to amazing success which I know Rory will too,” he told The Irish Sun.
“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.”
O’Carroll added: “He’s a legend.”
The BBC has confirmed there are no more series of the show planned, however there are expected to be Christmas specials.
Explaining the decision to quit, the gay actor told the Irish Daily Mail: “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. I told Brendan on June 16 about my decision to leave.
“That’s when I handed in my notice.”
Cowan, who had been touring the world as part of the Mrs Brown’s Boys live show, said: “I was supposed to leave at the end of that week, but Brendan said that would be impossible and asked if I’d stay on until the end of the London O2 gigs.
“So I agreed to that.”
He added: “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.”
Cowan previously joked about receiving proposals from straight women during the show’s live tour.
He explained: “I have had two wedding proposals again – I turned them down but I kept both of the rings.”
He added: “I wear them both on stage but I explained to one woman: ‘Listen, I’m gay’ and she said it didn’t matter that we would be compatible.
“I got two proposals the last time I was in Australia as well – so maybe it’s just going to become one of those things like throwing your knickers at Tom Jones.
“I’ll be staying single – and I’m certainly not marrying a woman.”
