Mrs Brown’s Boys star Gary Hollywood left ‘stressed out’ over ‘unfair treatment’ on set amid personal problems

Following reports that sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys actors Damien McKiernan and Gary Hollywood have resigned over a pay dispute, the latter has been revealed to have been “stressed out” by the ordeal.

Gary, 41, has not only had the COVID-19 crisis and a national lockdown to face this year, he also tragically lost his brother who had two heart attacks.

This, and the crisis in his work on the sitcom, have somewhat clouded the fact that Gary also welcomed a baby boy, Ollie, this year.

A source told MailOnline on Tuesday: ‘It’s more concerning for Gary as his brother Gerard passed away this year and he has a new baby.

‘Gerard died after suffering two heart attacks. It happened two months after the birth of Gary’s baby, Ollie.

“The point of Mrs Brown’s Boys is that they are meant to be a family and everyone is paid equally regardless. It couldn’t be further from the truth!

Also, Damien, who plays Gary’s boyfriend on the show, liked a tweet from someone calling the show’s star Brendan O’Carroll.

The tweet read: ‘This is shocking the way [Brendan O’Carroll] has tried [Gary Hollywood]. He thinks Brendan has gotten too big for his boots! [sic]’

The long-standing BBC sitcom has come under fire for its behind-the-scenes politics, and 54-year-old Damien and Gary said they found they earn less than the rest of the cast, which is largely made up of family. of the star O’Carroll.

An insider told MailOnline exclusively on Monday that the way the show runs behind the scenes creates an unhappy work environment.

“The show is very Up / Down, with a very clear division between Brendan’s family and the few real actors like Gary and Damien,” the source said.

“The family are all directors of Mrs. Brown’s production company and they are always careful.

The BBC let Brendan do what he wanted!

MailOnline has reached out to the BBC for comment.

In addition to the dispute over the money, Gary and Damien were also allegedly told that they would not appear in the 2020 Christmas specials.

While Gary will appear in one of the two episodes of the season, Damien, 54, was informed that “they just told him he was being eliminated.”

A source told the Daily Star: “Gary and Damien were confused and hurt when they realized they were being paid less than everyone else. When they raised the subject it did not go down very well.

Gary was later told that he would only appear in one of this year’s Christmas specials. That was the last straw, so he told them he would resign.

It was even worse news for Damien. They simply told him that he was being eliminated. They are both heartbroken that things have turned out this way. ‘

The Christmas installment, which is generally touted as one of BBC One’s top Christmas night deals, has started production, with none of the actors involved, the source said.

O’Carroll’s wife, sister Eilish, son Danny and daughter Fiona have all appeared on the series.

Though he hasn’t disclosed his salary on the show, O’Carroll’s net worth was last calculated in 2013 when it was a staggering £ 9.98 million / € 11 million.

In 2017, however, the show’s stars revealed how in debt they were in the first few races. But in 2019 it was reported that earnings at a Brendan O’Carroll entertainment company nearly doubled to £ 584,311 / € 643,876 the year before.

The Irish Times then reported that accounts submitted by BOC-PIX Ltd show that O’Carroll and his wife, Jennifer Gibney, had obtained nearly € 2 million in dividends from the company during 2017-2018.

O’Carroll also earns much of his income from touring.

Mrs. Brown’s Boys grew out of a 1992 short radio play by creator O’Carroll.

He followed this up with four books, one of them adapted into a 1999 film starring Anjelica Huston.

O’Carroll later created a theater company, Mrs. Browne’s Boys [with the ‘e’ in ‘Browne’ being removed at a later date], recruiting many of his family and friends.

O’Carroll dressed in drag to play titleholder Agnes Brown[e], after the actress who intended to play her did not show up one night.

The theatrical show was eventually adapted into a sitcom, debuting in 2011; this spawned more theatrical shows and a D-movie.

Mrs Brown’s Boys follows the rowdy Irish matriarch Agnes, whose favorite hobby is meddling in the lives of her six children.

The comedy is known for its antics and for breaking the fourth wall, with the characters drawing the audience. Discarded shots are often left in the final edit for added quirk.

Despite being universally criticized by critics, the show is a ratings success in Ireland, Great Britain, New Zealand and Canada. It was also recently revealed as a fan favorite in Jamaica.

All Round To Mrs Brown’s is a BBC One spinoff show in which celebrity guests sit down with the Browns. She featured Caitlyn Jenner earlier this year.

The comedy live show tour had to be suspended in 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis.