British public votes Mrs Brown’s Boys as the sitcom of the century

Well, we didn’t see this one coming.

Brendan O’Carroll’s massive hit comedy series Mrs Brown’s Boys has just been voted the best British sitcom of the 21^st century in a new ‘Radio Times’ readers poll.

The Irish-Scottish co-production beat out Ricky Gervais’ modern classic The Office (which placed second) and, erm, Peter Kay’s Car Share, which came third.

The top 20 was compiled from a shortlist of 40 picked by ‘Radio Times’ critics, and experts from the British Film Institute, and then 14,000 members of the public voted on it.

When ‘Radio Times’ contacted O’Carroll with the news, he shouted “breathtaking!”

He added: “Lost for words… and that doesn’t happen to me very often. Myself and Jenny [Jennifer Gibney, his wife and co-star] are dancing around 
the living room. I can die happy now… but I’ll take my time…”

“It vindicates the fans’ belief in the show. They have kept us on the air — it certainly wasn’t the reviewers. There is an audience out there that comedy forgot — that Are You Being Served? audience has been left behind. Us winning this award proves that.”

Needless to say, the decision has divided people. A lot. Some thought it was the Britain’s greatest self-inflicted disaster since the Brexit vote.

"Mrs Brown's Boys voted best sitcom this century" https://t.co/9b9Ix8KfLU pic.twitter.com/xmtjnb3Iji

— Tom Copley (@tomcopley) August 23, 2016

https://twitter.com/chrisbrereton1/status/767987203943325696

I think if you asked me, like really asked me, if I'd choose being tasered over watching Mrs Brown's Boys… I would choose the tasering.

— David Wyllie (@journodave) August 23, 2016

First Brexit, now this…THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS…https://t.co/hlp72bVhJc

— Stuie Buchanan (@StuieBuck) August 23, 2016

You wonder how Mrs Brown's Boys could be voted the situation comedy of the century, but then cast your mind back to the EU referendum

— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) August 23, 2016

https://twitter.com/john_neptune/status/767988577791840256

Mrs Brown's Boys voted best comedy sitcom of 21st century? I don't want to live on this planet anymore. pic.twitter.com/d3SIbHY2u2

— Col 🏆🏆🏆 (@yatley9320) August 23, 2016

Others defended the show and its position in the poll.

https://twitter.com/JeyyLowe/status/767978519548887044

https://twitter.com/IanKEllard/status/767978022188220416

https://twitter.com/karenmaeby/status/764556034660831232

https://twitter.com/absolutelyjunk/status/767988269384626176

The top 10 in the poll were as follows:

1 ) Mrs Brown’s Boys

2) The Office

3 ) Peter Kay’s Car Share

4 ) Count Arthur Strong

5 ) The IT Crowd

6 ) The Thick Of It

7 ) Gavin & Stacey

8 ) Miranda

9 ) Raised By Wolves

10 ) Outnumbered               

Where do you stand on Mrs Brown’s Boys and its success? Vote in our own poll below:

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