Mrs Brown’s Boys bosses have warned its stars off doing reality shows, it is claimed.
Cast members were told it would not go down well if they cashed in on lucrative offers to sign up for high-profile series. The secret directive is said to have left many of them “frustrated”.
A show insider said: “Over the years Mrs Brown’s Boys has pulled in big ratings, so it is no surprise there has always been a lot of interest in the cast.
“But producers made it crystal clear they weren’t keen on everyone doing reality shows.
“It wasn’t an outright ban and a few exceptions have been made. But many stars were aware that it wouldn’t go down well if they signed up for a big reality show. Some have turned down really big offers for shows like Dancing On Ice to stay on the right side of bosses.”
Since Mrs Brown’s Boys launched in 2011 just two of its cast members have been allowed to do reality TV.
Jennifer Gibney, 56, did Strictly in 2014 and Eilish O’Carroll, 67, did the Irish version, Dancing With The Stars, last year.
Producers are said to have made it clear that they didn’t want other cast members of the show, in which Brendan O’Carroll, 65, plays Mrs Brown, to follow suit.
Our source said: “The culture behind the scenes has created animosity. It feels like some cast members get to do stuff that others don’t.”
Show insiders have previously claimed there is a “sometimes toxic” atmosphere off-screen that is a world away from what fans see.
Earlier this month we revealed how Gary Hollywood and Damien McKiernan had left the show after a pay row when they discovered that they were earning less than their co-stars and had “confronted bosses”.
Meanwhile, the stars of the show are also reportedly worried about the future of the show after seeing the ratings drop.
A source said: “There is a feeling among some of the cast that the show is not going to run for much longer.
“The ratings are down and it feels like viewers are getting tired of it.
“For many of the cast, this show is their main source of income, so it’s nerve-racking to think about it ending. But they are trying to be realistic.”
