Mrs Brown’s Boys star Brendan O’Carroll talks Gary Hollywood’s exit

Brendan O’Carroll, the actor behind Mrs Brown’s Boys matriarch, Agnes Brown, set the record straight on Saturday about Gary Hollywood’s departure from the show. 

His co-star, 41, who played the loveable hairdresser Dino Doyle, decided to quit the BBC One show after 20 years over an alleged ‘big money dispute’. 

However, Brendan, 65, has insisted that he left due to personal reasons and there is no bad blood between them. 

He said during an interview with Dublin Live: ‘Some people claimed Gary left because of a row over money but it wasn’t true. They didn’t know the full story and it was amicable.’

Brendan revealed that he bore the brunt of incessant online abuse after fans assumed Gary left due to the rumoured pay quarrel.

He added: ‘I got a lot of abuse over it on social media but I let it go over my head. Gary is a fabulous act and has worked with us on and off for over 20 years.

‘He decided he wanted to follow his own star and we are delighted for him.’

According to Brendan, his former co-star decided to move to Spain and start a new life with his family. 

Gary split from his wife Sharon Mudre in 2017 after 14 years of marriage, and they share two sons, Jack, 18, and Charlie, 16. 

He also has a son, Zachary, 20, from a prior relationship to his childhood sweetheart, Anne Haney. 

The actor has found love again with his wife of two years, Cherylanne, and they share a son, Oliver, who was born in March. 

He was born a month premature at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he stayed for some time as he battled jaundice.