Mrs Brown’s Boys star Dermot O’Neill reveals his wife Patricia has been diagnosed with terminal cancer after she nursed the star through his own battle with the disease

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Dermot O’Neill, known for his role in Mrs Brown’s Boys, has revealed that his wife, Patricia, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This comes after Patricia cared for Dermot when he was battling his own illness.

Sixty-year-old Patricia Maguire, known as ‘Chickie,’ found out she had advanced cancer while in Spain to get a hernia fixed. Doctors were unable to perform the surgery because they discovered tumors in her stomach.

Dermot, aged 74 and famous for playing Granddad in Mrs Brown’s Boys, is currently looking after his wife as she receives chemotherapy treatment in Ireland.

In 2019, the actor found a lump in his throat and was diagnosed with the disease. Fortunately, he received a clean bill of health the next year.

In a heartbreaking interview, Patricia shared doctors have told her she only has months to live.

She praised Dermot, describing him as a traditional, strong man. She added that because he’s 14 years her senior, he never expected her to become ill.

Hearing the doctor say I had stage four cancer was devastating. He explained I had only a few months to live, not years. I was completely stunned and overwhelmed. There’s no cure, and treatment can only extend my life, not save it.

Patricia found it most difficult to tell her sons, Salvador, 39, and Evan, 24, the news.

She shared with The Sun that Dermot placed his hand on her knee, and both of her sons held her hands, leading to a group hug filled with tears. She explained to them that she has cancer and that they all needed to face it together, acknowledging it as a difficult part of life.

I’ve begun chemotherapy, and I’m hoping it will give me at least six months of good health. After that, we can reassess and see what other options are available.

During the interview, Patricia expressed her concern that Dermot was having a hard time coping with her terminal illness.

Dermot and Patricia met at an event hosted by Brendan O’Carroll, the creator of Mrs. Brown’s Boys, in Dublin. They were a couple for twenty years before getting married in 2012.

Before they met, Patricia and Dermot each had children from previous relationships, totaling seven kids between them. Patricia revealed that Dermot proposed to her by text message while he was on tour with the comedy show, Mrs. Brown’s Boys.

The actor, known for his role as Granddad in the BBC sitcom since 2011, received a cancer diagnosis in 2019 after discovering a lump on his neck.

He worried the cancer might be back when he noticed swelling in his neck, but getting tests done to check was held up by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was relieved to receive a clean bill of health and told The Sun he was overjoyed, saying, “It’s a huge weight off my shoulders.”

I was terrified, constantly worrying about the cancer returning because of a swollen neck. Now that’s behind me, and I can finally move forward with my life.

For over ten years, Mrs Brown’s Boys has been a consistent and popular part of the BBC’s Christmas programming.

The show has featured several short-form series over the years, most recently a four-episode run last year – its first since 2013.

Oh my gosh, Brendan’s character is just EVERYTHING! Everyone on set and all the fans call him ‘Mammy’ – it’s the most adorable thing! But don’t let that fool you, because this ‘Mammy’ is seriously hilarious and doesn’t hold back – she’s got the most amazing, wonderfully foul mouth! It’s such a brilliant contrast, and it’s what makes the character so unforgettable. I just adore her!

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2026-03-22 14:03