"It's just not the same" – viewers aren't sure about the 'new Rory' in Mrs Brown's Boys
New actor Damien McKiernan replaced Rory Cowan during the Christmas Day special, and Mrs Brown's Boys creator Brendan O'Carroll admitted he had "big shoes to fill"
Doctor Who wasn't the only show to feature a regeneration scene on Christmas Day: in the Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special, fans finally discovered who would be replacing actor Rory Cowan in the BBC comedy.
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Original Rory actor Cowan announced he was leaving the show in July 2016, but the Christmas Day episode saw new actor Damien McKiernan unveiled in a plastic surgery storyline that explained away the character's new face – and voice.
https://www.facebook.com/radiotimes/posts/10155668498726075
However, it may be a while before viewers embrace the new Rory, with some fans going online after the episode to say how they were unimpressed by the change.
https://twitter.com/ChloeBourtonn/status/945677380328345600
They weren't pleased with the actor-swapping...
https://twitter.com/slinehan1/status/945420530588495872
Some viewers wondered why Rory had to be replaced at all, when the actor's departure could have been explained another way.
https://twitter.com/jay_jay_84/status/945420830162456576
Fans really missed the old Rory...
https://twitter.com/Clare_C_09/status/945422541232975872
Meanwhile, in a poll on the RadioTimes.com website, over 70 per cent of people said they were "not keen" on the new Rory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqy6JZLRtXk
With 2,630 votes cast at the time of writing, just 765 respondents said they "love him already".
However, 'new Rory' only really made an appearance right at the end of the episode, and many pointed out that it would take time for the new star to "settle into his role".
https://twitter.com/nat_1983/status/945566217775001600
Some fans thought it was worth giving him a chance...
https://twitter.com/melirving1990/status/945421947042779136
They thought given time, things would feel back to normal...
https://twitter.com/ERBQ1991/status/945421930705932289
Creator Brendan O'Carroll admitted that actor Damien McKiernan had "big shoes to fill", but that he was delighted by his debut after Mrs Brown's Boys became the second most watched show on Christmas Day behind the Queen's Christmas broadcast.
“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!" he told the Irish Sun.
Former Rory actor Rory Cowan however admitted that he hadn't watched the Christmas Day special, saying, "I’ve left the show and what happens after is nothing to do with me and doesn’t interest me."