MRS BROWN'S BOYS: BBC CONFIRMS FIFTH SERIES OF HIT COMEDY

The BBC have confirmed previous reports that Mrs Brown's Boys will return for a fifth series on BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

The BBC tease: "Agnes Brown and the gang from Finglas are back! Everyone's favourite Irish Mammy returns for a brand new fifth series featuring all your favourite characters, so get ready for more slapstick shenanigans this spring!" Filming begins in Scotland from 1st May, with audience tickets available from the BBC website here.

The BBC's head of comedy, Jon Petrie, said (via British Comedy Guide): "Brendan has created an iconic comedy character in Agnes Brown. Mrs. Brown's Boys is a BAFTA-winning comedy show and one of the BBC's most-watched comedies ever... I'm proud to have it in the BBC Comedy stable."

Meanwhile, the BBC have reportedly commissioned a full series of Shedites, a new comedy starring Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll alongside Tommy Cannon. Filming on the series is due to commence in July and will air on BBC One.

The comedy, which was first piloted last year and is written by Mrs Brown's Boys co-writer Paddy Houlihan, focuses on male friendship and mental health. Brendan O'Carroll stars as 'Jimmy' with Cannon as his best friend.

Speaking to the Irish Sun in December, O'Carroll said: "I've been advocating for the BBC to make this show for a long time because as well as being really funny, it ­highlights men's mental health. It's not something men talk about, but it's got easier because of the men's shed movement which has sprung up in UK and Ireland..."

Mrs Brown's Boys star Danny O'Carroll confirmed the series would be going ahead, commenting (via The Sun): "Paddy has written Shedites for BBC1 and we’re filming that in July."

Mrs Brown's Boys airs on BBC One. Stream previous episodes on BBC iPlayer.