Rory Cowan has said that he is in a better place now that he is not touring with Mrs Brown’s Boys.
The actor had a busy schedule while on the show, touring Australia and New Zealand this time last year.
He revealed that he struggled with being away as his mother, Esther, was ill.
The funnyman is replacing Al Porter in the role of Polly in the Olympia’s Panto Polly and the Beanstalk and says he has more time to enjoy it this year.
“The last panto I did was a very enjoyable experience. Immediately after it, I had to go to Australia for a three-month-long tour. So it was a bit hectic,” he told Independent.ie.
“This year is better. I can finish the panto then relax at home.”
He added that he is happy to be spending more time with his mother.
“My mother Esther suffers from dementia so I’ll be able to continue to spend time with her, instead of having to go off to Australia and New Zealand.
“The last time I was over there was a horrible time in my life. My mother was very ill and I had to tour on the other side of the world, which broke my heart. I’m in a happier place now because I can pop over to see her whenever I want to,” he added.
The star previously spoke to VIP about his mother’s condition and how he wanted to be at home with her.
“She’s still alive, but she’s getting worse, and if I stayed with the show we’d be back to Australia. There is no way on God’s earth I’d go over there again with my mother in the state that she’s in.
“I’ve done all the gigs and the big places… It’s not going to get bigger for Mrs Brown’s Boys. It’s going to just be doing the same massive big arena’s and I’ve done them all,
“My mother is not going to be here forever, so I made a choice. It was a no-brainer for me.”