Mrs Brown’s Boys star Rory Cowan refuses to watch after gay character replaced
Mrs Brown’s Boys actor Rory Cowan quit the show after 26 years earlier this year.
He had played the sitcom’s gay character, also called Rory, since the inception of the programme.
The out gay actor revealed he quit the show on the spot – walking out after the final gig of a live tour.
Now Cowan says he refuses to watch the show.
Asked if he would be watching the Christmas special – which was one of the most-watched show’s on Christmas Day – the actor was less than enthusiastic.
He said: “I love [‘Victoria’]. It’s two hours long and I’ll be glued to that. I’ve no interest in Mrs Brown’s Boys.
“I left that show six months ago so it’s not something I want to revisit. And whoever replaced me is not my business either.”
When pressed on the subject, he insisted: “Whatever happens with Mrs Brown’s Boys, I’m not interested.”
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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.”
Show creator O’Carroll said his quitting was “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 said there are no more series of the show planned, however there are expected to be Christmas specials.
Cowan previously joked about receiving proposals from straight women during the show’s live tour.
