MAMMY'S PRIDE Mrs Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll admits Rory Cowan left ‘big shoes to fill’ as fans were left unconvinced by the new Rory Brown

The actor, who plays Agnes Brown, was chuffed with his replacement Damien McKiernan

MRS Brown's Boys creator Brendan O'Carroll has admitted it was a huge task to replace actor Rory Cowan in the hilarious sitcom, insisting his follow-up had "big shoes to fill."

The bawdy BBC comedy was the most-watched show on Christmas Day yet fans were left less than impressed as Damien McKiernan made his debut in the role as Irish mammy Agnes Brown's son, Rory Brown.

In the eyes of those at home, the newbie fell short of the mark replacing Dubliner Rory, who quit the role in the summer after 26 years.

Rory then told how he wouldn't be tuning in to the first of two festive episodes, instead choosing to watch period drama Victoria on ITV.

Yet Brendan, who plays crude yet comical Agnes, was eager to focus on the positives.

He exclusively told the Irish Sun: “I’m more pleased that it didn’t matter. I’m really delighted for Damien — those are big shoes to fill.”

He added he was delighted that Mrs Brown’s Boys was the most-watched single channel show on Christmas Day, and said: “These ratings are pure joy for us. A 32.4 per cent share means that one-third of everyone watching TV last night in the UK were watching Mrs Brown’s Boys. Wow!

"We’re Fingal’s number one export this Christmas.”

The changeover was handled with a bizarre plastic surgery plot that saw the Brown family gathered round to see the results of Rory’s surgery and Agnes shouting: “Who the f*** are you?”

The TV matriarch was the only character who seemed to be alarmed by the appearance of the new Rory as his boyfriend called him “beautiful” and Maria said she “didn’t see any ­difference”.