Mrs Brown's Boys makes return to BBC tonight as controversial show divides viewers

The garish opening theme titles of Mrs Brown's Boys (Friday, BBC1, 9.30pm) will either spark joy or set your teeth on edge - it’s the return of the Marmite show that splits the nation. From the moment ‘Mammy’ (Brendan O’Carroll) appears like a Pantomime Dame in her floral dress and cardigan, millions of viewers fall about laughing.

The other half of the nation scrambles for the remote and switches off immediately. For every person who loves the crude innuendo, toilet humour and expletive-filled slapstick, there is another who would rather gouge their eyes out of their head than watch a single second.

As this four-part series arrives, you can expect more of the same. Agnes continues to meddle in the lives of her nearest and dearest, with plotlines including helping Winnie to pass her driving test and Agnes discovering a passion for erotic fiction.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen moan is unfair after F1 race director did what drivers have begged for

READ MORE: Garden expert names vegetables you should plant now for huge winter crop

Meanwhile Grandad has SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and won’t move out of his chair, while Buster (Brendan’s son Danny O’Carroll) tries to start a new dog walking business. The jokes are so well signposted that the studio audience is ready to cheer or boo at every line, with bloopers kept in for extra gag points.

There’s also the usual monologue message at the end, with a wink to camera. In this episode, Agnes unwittingly becomes the subject of a new podcast, sending her daughter Cathy (Brendan’s wife Jennifer Ann O’Carroll) into a tailspin. Agnes says of the podcast: “Who in their right mind is going to listen to that? What a load of Sh***!”... an observation that some viewers of this sitcom may well relate to.

Mrs Brown's Boys is airing on BBC One tonight at 9.30pm There's plenty more on TV tonight - here's the best of the rest...

FIRST DATES, CHANNEL 4, 10pm

Former banished Traitors contestant Ash Bibi is in the restaurant for a date, though she admits she’s hopeless at flirting.
Fortunately Fred Sirieix is on hand to give her a crash course in romantic banter. Ash’s date is Miguel, a 46-year-old self-confessed cheesy Spanish poet, but will the pair enter into a ‘faithful’ relationship?

Also in the restaurant is 22-year-old luxury sales assistant Dominic, who is looking for a geek with heart who can handle his big personality. Enter Stephen, a sound engineer armed with a library of one-liners. Self-proclaimed smoothie Wayne from Kent is a handyman who can fix almost anything... except his love life. With a ukulele in hand he's hoping to serenade music-lover Teresa. And superyacht steward Natasha is back for the second time, still on the lookout for a man who can sweep her off her feet. Her date, Jack from Ipswich, is a prison manager who insists that he's more of a lover than a fighter.

CHIEF OF WAR, APPLE TV+

Who else could play Hawaii's ferocious warrior than Hawaiian-born American movie star Jason Momoa? Even on a normal day, he looks like a warrior. Based on true events, this epic saga follows what happens with Hawaii’s four kingdoms divided by war. Told from an indigenous perspective, with a predominantly Polynesian cast, this is a passion project for creators, Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, who both have native Hawaiian heritage.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the islands of Hawaii, the nine episode large-scale production tells the story of the unification and colonisation of Hawaii at the turn of the 18th century. Momoa leads the show as warrior Ka’iana, who embarks on a mission to unite his people as an existential threat approaches their shores. Expect stunning scenery, epic battles, heartfelt emotion, tribal allegiances and a fight for peace. Momoa says: “It’s a story rooted in my home, my culture, and my heart.”

EMMERDALE, ITV1, 7.30pm

After John planted a listening device and discovered some dirt on his brother, things are going from bad to worse for Robert. After being stabbed in the leg by Kyle, Dylan is in a bad way but refuses to talk to anyone. Celia feels annoyed with Kim for raising the rent. Now she just needs a plan to retaliate. Lewis encourages Ross to stop wasting his time and win Steph back. Will Ross take his brother's advice on board?

CORONATION STREET, ITV1, 8pm

It’s the anniversary of Becky’s death and Lisa is struggling. At a therapy session, she admits that she thinks there was more to it than meets the eye and wonders if Becky was in some way corrupt. At the garage, Kevin tells Carl he’s sacked as he simply can’t trust him anymore. Todd plays it down when Billy calls round and sees bedding on the sofa. Bernie and Aadi go over the wedding plans, trying to keep the cost down.

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram, Twitter , Facebook , and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage.