Brendan O'Carroll and the cast of Mrs Brown's Boys threw caution to the, ahem, wind on Saturday night as they performed their first ever live episode on television.
Saturday night's simulcast on RTÉ One and BBC One began with the matriarch welcoming fans and predicting that "somebody will be leaving the BBC on Monday".
We need your consent to load this Facebook contentWe use Facebook to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
She described the show as a "wonderful opportunity to address my subjects live".
The rough and ready feel of the production was in keeping with the humour as O'Carroll cranked up the mischief by taking out his earpiece, breaking the fourth wall and trying his best to make his co-stars crack up. Many times he succeeded.
Highlights included O'Carroll's testing of his co-stars' improv abilities, Mrs Brown watching Game of Thrones and one of the best put-downs in the show's history.
We need your consent to load this Facebook contentWe use Facebook to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The opportunities for viewers to play double entendre bingo were plentiful with a gag near the end of the episode enough to make even legendary Viz character Finbarr Saunders blush.
As the show drew to a close a still-in-character O'Carroll paid tribute to how comedies like Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses keep people smiling when there is so much despair in the real world.
We need your consent to load this Facebook contentWe use Facebook to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Reflecting on his cast and crew's own contribution with their live TV outing, s/he said: "A lot of people thought this was just going to be a half-an-hour of bad language. F***** sake!"
The reaction on social media was as expected: the fans loved it while there was nothing on screen to change the detractors' minds.
Loved Mrs Brown tonight. Innuendo galore 😃
— Sarah MacDonnell (@SMacDonnell1) July 23, 2016
I'd rather watch the new Top Gear than Mrs Brown's Boys. That's a lie; I'd rather stab my eyes out with a rusty fork than watch either.
— Martyn Cleverly (@Douchecity) July 23, 2016
Not particularly a fan of Mrs Brown, but the BBC should give Brendan O'Carroll his own talk show and The Generation Game. Would be huge.
— Chuck Thomas (@chuckthomasuk) July 23, 2016
First Mrs Brown boys I've ever watched, I have to admit I laughed, a lot, well done Brendan but wouldn't work with you #MrsBrownsBoysLIVE
— Mary Anderson (@molltrot) July 23, 2016
I laughed so much and actually got emotional at the end, I do LOVE Mrs Brown's Boys! Hope it'll be back soon! 😂😢👏😍 #MBBLive xxxxx
— Siobhan Linehan (@slinehan1) July 23, 2016
You know that cheesy sitcom ricky gervais's character creates in 'Extras' ? Well Mrs. Brown's Boys is that in real life
— Jack (@warne97) July 23, 2016
Mrs brown boys tonight 😂😂😂😂😂 glad to see them back with new stuff u laugh from start to finish 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— GillianByrne (@Gill6866Byrne) July 23, 2016
