The BBC have splashed the cash to make sure two of their biggest shows stay until 2020.
Mrs Brown’s Boys and Graham Norton both revealed at the National TV Awards that they have signed new contracts.
Norton, clutching his gold special recognition award, said backstage: “We have just done a deal for another three years, which right now seems like a long time.
“The wish list of who I want on is a really hard one because we have done so well. My go-to used to be Madonna, cos I thought we would never get her and then we got her. I think Brad Pitt, we have never had him.”
Earlier in the night, BBC1’s love-it-or -hate-it comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys was also celebrating an NTAs victory and confirming it is very much here to stay. “The BBC have ordered two Christmas specials a year up to 2020,” creator Brendan O’Carroll said.
Square Eyes revealed earlier this month that a live Saturday night show, All Round To Mrs Brown’s, is being created. It will feature sketches – and cast members will interview other chat -show hosts.
“It’s kind of a hybrid show, it will be presented from the house,” he added. “Mrs Brown will have interaction with the audience and we have a crack there.
“Cathy has her own vlog where she will have her own special guests. One of them has to bring their own mother, who Mrs Brown will interview in the kitchen.”
His wife Jennifer Gibney, who plays Cathy Brown, added: “We are hoping to get hosts like Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross – and maybe we will have Ant and Dec.”
Brendan added: “I saw Graham earlier and he said, ‘I believe we have you on the show’ and I said, ‘I would like to have you on our show’ and he said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s swap’.”
Graham and Mrs Brown on the same Saturday night show? Sounds like a recipe for ratings success...