The BBC has allegedly signed a deal ensuring that Mrs Brown's Boys will air at Christmas every year until at least 2026.

The sitcom, which stars Brendan O'Carroll in drag as Irish 'mammy' Agnes Brown, has aired at Christmas time every year since 2011 - and in recent years, it has settled into a pattern of a Christmas Day special followed by a New Year's Day special.

According to O'Carroll, who also writes the show, the BBC has agreed a contract with him to keep the show running for another six years and has also alleged that the corporation is contractually obliged to broadcast it at 10pm on Christmas Day.

"It's incredible that the BBC have nailed down such a special slot for Mrs Brown," he told The Irish Sun.

"We've been doing it in for nine years already, which is six more than The Royle Family had and more than Morecambe and Wise.

"This new deal we signed last week goes all the way to 2026, which means I will be able to grow into the part, and we've a clause in which guarantees Mrs Brown is aired at 10pm on Christmas night, or else we don't have to make it.

"I wanted that because if it's not good enough for Christmas Day, then we shouldn't be making it."

Click here to see BBC One's schedule for Christmas Day 2020 in full.