The BBC has announced that its flagship sitcom ‘Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ will have the opportunity to broadcast a one-off live episode in the summer of 2016.

The special episode has been commissioned as part of the BBC’s landmark sitcom season, which has been launched to mark the 60th season of ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’. ‘Mrs. Brown’s Boys’ will be particularly suited to the format, as quite a lot of improvisation happens on set, with some bloopers and moments where the actors ‘break the fourth wall’ being left in during the editing process.

Brendan O'Carroll'Mrs. Brown's Boys' star and creator Brendan O'Carroll with his wife (and co-star) Jennifer Gibney

The controversial but extremely popular show’s creator, Brendan O’Carroll, said in reaction: “This is very exciting. When I heard the BBC were letting us go fully live I thought: ‘They've lost their minds!’. I'm seriously delighted about this - as ‘Mrs Brown's Boys’ started in the theatre it gives us a chance to show the TV audience live what we really do. Put the kids to bed early!”

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The announcement came as BBC One controller Charlotte Moore pledged that every programme on the channel in the coming years would be innovative, making a statement on Wednesday (September 23rd) at the launch of the network’s autumn and winter seasons.

“We all know BBC One's remit is to entertain, educate and inform for a mainstream audience. But I want to make three promises. BBC One will be defined in the coming years by its commitment to risk taking. I will guarantee investment in innovation. And I will challenge every new commission to break the mould.”

She also unveiled a brand new re-telling of the classical city of Troy, focussing on a family as war rages between the Troy and Greece, and a new police drama ‘River and Capital’ concerning an investment banker living in a south London street transformed by rising house prices. There will also be a costume drama adaptation of ‘War and Peace’ and a 20-part series called ‘Dickensian’.

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