BBC comedy star is sued over equal pay
Mrs Brown creator faces discrimination claim
MRS Brown’s Boys creator Brendan O’Carroll is being sued by his former co-star Gary Hollywood.
Mr O’Carroll, 65, is facing claims of constructive dismissal and workplace discrimination following an argument over pay, according to a representative for Mr Hollywood.
The Scots star, 41, who reportedly quit the show earlier this year, is also taking legal action against the BBC and a media firm.
Mr Hollywood, who played Dino Doyle, told the Daily Star Sunday: ‘I feel I wasn’t being paid equally and I wasn’t being given an explanation for decisions.
‘When I tried to resolve it, nothing was done. I was just disregarded. But I won’t put up with it any more.
‘I won’t be treated like that. This has gone too far. They shouldn’t do this to people.
‘I am taking legal action. The papers have been lodged for a tribunal and the process has now started.’
Mr Hollywood, from Glasgow, said he thinks he was paid less than his co- stars for the spin- off show All Round To Mrs Brown’s.
He said that after he raised the issue with bosses he was taken out of this year’s special festive episodes.
The Scot also told the paper he was shocked that Mr O’Carroll recently claimed their relationship was ‘amicable’ following his departure. He said: ‘I was absolutely gobsmacked. I would have stayed quiet about all of this. Does he expect me to crawl into a corner and shut my mouth?’
A spokesman for Mr Hollywood said: ‘We can confirm Gary Hollywood has filed action against the BBC, Hungry Bear Media and BOC PIX [Brendan O’Carroll’s production company], regarding constructive dismissal, secondment to pay disparity on the Mrs Brown’s TV franchise.
‘It’s unfortunate it had to come to this. There had been a number of attempts, by ourselves to encourage the parties implicated to resolve this amicably. Due to Covid, the Tribunal
Service is taking an average of 25 days to send claims to the implicated parties. From there, the parties will have 28 days to reply and resolve this, without the need for any further action or court proceedings.
‘Should court proceedings take place, Gary will look forward to his day in court, where he can give his account of events to a judge.’
A BBC spokesman declined to comment on the allegations. Hungry Bear Media was contacted for comment.
Mr Hollywood starred as Dominic Dunbar in Take the High Road and later appeared in several movies, including The Winter Guest and The Flying Scotsman.