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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Nicola Methven

Derry Girls writer shares harrowing true story behind tragic finale death

Viewers were left weeping at the end of last night’s Derry Girls, when Clare’s dad died suddenly from an aneurysm on the Channel 4 series.

Yesterday, show writer Lisa McGee revealed the heartbreaking scenes were inspired by a true story.

She explained: “My friend’s dad died when we were around that age, suddenly.

"It was a real shock, we’d grown up in this place where there was a lot of unpredictable stuff happening and we worried about the violence - and this was a thing that could have happened to anybody.

"Something shifted in my friendship group when that happened, we all grew up.”

Viewers were left weeping at the end of last night’s Derry Girls (Channel 4 Television/Hatrick Productions)

McGee, 50, said she is still friends with the real-life pals who inspired the hit series. “They say they’re embarrassed about it but they tell everyone,” she laughed.

“And after an episode I get about 200 messages in the WhatsApp group.”

Her feature-length finale to Derry Girls airs tonight, featuring a high-profile cameo linked to an episode from a previous series.

Channel 4's series three of Derry Girls aired a devastating death, ahead of the hit show's final episode (CHANNEL 4)

In the plot, the five friends are voting on the Good Friday Agreement, and viewers discover that hot-head Michelle is more closely connected to the Troubles than anyone realised.

McGee, a genuine Derry girl, said her aim had always been comedy first, history lesson second. “We just wanted to make people laugh. And along the way it’s taught people a bit about where I come from.”

Yesterday, show writer Lisa McGee revealed the heartbreaking scenes were inspired by a true story (Channel 4 Television/Hatrick Productions)

She said that a future spin-off or follow-up for the much-loved characters was likely. “I’d love to at some point. It’s just finding the right thing.”

It could involve Jamie Dornan, whose schedule prevented him from making a cameo this time (but check out Ardal O’Hanlon!).

Lisa says: “Jamie’s a fan of the show and a very funny guy so - next time.” Bring it on.

Derry Girls concludes Wednesday night at 9pm on Channel 4, and is available to watch on All4.

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