Mrs Brown’s Boys is set to return yet again this year for another duo of specials.

Brendan O’Carroll’s divisive but hugely popular sitcom will be back for its traditional Christmas Day and New Year’s Day episodes, expected to air at around 10pm on BBC One (via British Comedy Guide).

The BBC’s Director of Comedy, Jon Petrie, is quoted as saying: “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.

“It’s made me laugh many times and seeing Mrs Brown’s Boys live is an unforgettable experience – I feel very lucky that I’ve had the chance to witness it and I’m proud to have it in the BBC Comedy stable.”

Both last year’s full series and festive special performed well for the BBC, with only Ghosts’ fifth and final series and specials doing better in the ratings.

“[Viewers] want jokes, they want shows that make them laugh and the ones that they are re-watching again and again are Ghosts, Motherland, Not Going Out and Mrs Brown’s Boys,” Petrie added. “They still get huge numbers for us.”

The show premiered in 2011 and ran for three seasons alongside festive specials. It then only aired new specials for a decade until a fourth season of four episodes aired last year.

A few months back, Dino Doyle actor Gary Hollywood revealed that his wife Cherylanne is expecting another child. They have a son together named Ollie, and three kids from Gary’s previous marriage.

“This news has just made up our year,” Hollywood explained. “We couldn’t be happier.”