BBC show Mrs Brown’s Boys, starring Irish actor Brendan O’Carroll, will be back on our screens at Christmas, but a “clumsy” joke from the star led rehearsals to be paused.

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Brendan O’Carroll has apologised over what he called a “clumsy” joke where a “racial term was implied”.

The BBC had to pause rehearsals of the upcoming Christmas special to investigate the incident.

The 69-year-old actor said he “deeply regrets” the line, which was first reported in the Mirror newspaper.

In the specials, O’Carroll will return to his role as Irish matriarch Agnes Brown, as she manages her unruly household full of children and grandchildren.

O’Carroll told Sky News in a statement: “At a read-through of the Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas specials, there was a clumsy attempt at a joke, in the character of Agnes, where a racial term was implied.

“It backfired and caused offence which I deeply regret and for which I have apologised.”

Rehearsals at the broadcaster’s Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow have now resumed, with shows going ahead on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as planned.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Whilst we don’t comment on individuals, the BBC is against all forms of racism, and we have robust processes in place should issues ever arise.”

Last year, Mrs Brown’s Boys returned for a four-part series, after being absent from our screens for 10 years.

A fifth series of the BAFTA-winning comedy is due to start filming next year.

Despite poor reviews from critics, the show’s a hit with viewers and pulls in consistently high ratings, with the Christmas specials proving particularly popular.

Carroll is also working on a new show for the BBC, Shedites, in which he will also star.