The Derry Girls cast open up about filming "bittersweet" final series
We're not ready to say goodbye!
Derry Girls is sadly coming to an end, with the disappointing news that the third season will be the last. It's not just fans that are sad to say goodbye to the girls and the wee English fella, as the cast have opened up about how emotional wrapping up filming for series three was.
Ahead of the third series starting on 12th April, which will take place just after Erin, Orla, Michelle, Clare, and James have sat their GCSEs, the cast have talked about the emotional experience of filming together one last time.
Nicola Coughlan, who plays Clare on the series talked about why the show was ending after three seasons: "It was definitely bittersweet. It's sad to think that we'll never play these characters again, but at the same time you want to send it off in the right way, on a high.
"You don't want to drag it out, and we always knew that creator Lisa McGee wanted to take it up to the Good Friday Agreement.
"Also, it's about that particular time in their lives, so I don't think seeing them in ten years would be as fun, because they're all so different. So you want to say goodbye to them when they're still there, if that makes sense."
Saoirse-Monica Jackson who plays Erin also opened up about her character's story coming to an end: "I think the journey that I've been on with Erin, especially on the third series, feels like a really nice place to leave this series. There's definitely been a lot of growth with her and a lot happens between the girls and James and the dynamic of their friendships. The best way to describe it is I've been fulfilled by the experience.
"I don't think I could have wanted or wished for anything more from this job and it's been such an incredible journey. I'm extremely proud of the show and extremely proud of Lisa, and I think that she's ended on such a beautiful note. It feels like a really nice place to leave it."
Watch the trailer for Derry Girls Series 3:
Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, who delivers some hilarious one-liners as Michelle, recalled the last day of filming: "That last scene was really surreal because there were only a few hours left and suddenly we were like, 'Is this really it?' People were getting a bit teary and biting their lips and trying to hold it all in, even the crew. And when they said, 'That's a wrap', it wasn't the usual thing of everyone going crazy. It was claps and hugs and it was bittersweet. That's the only way to describe it.
"This will be one of the most important jobs I've ever done and I think it's always going to stay at that. It's the job that launched my career. It's the city I'm from and it's my community and my family and friends and loved ones, and it's something that I'll always be incredibly proud of."
Take a look at our favourite Derry Girls quotes:
"Hi, I'm a lesbian!" Clare
"Congratulations." Laurie
"Thank you." Clare
"How many of you are there?" Laurie
"Just me, I'm just the one lesbian, the rest are all straight." Clare
"How many tickets do you need? Laurie
"Oh I see, five please." Clare
"We can turn our jeans into hot pants any night of the week, we're talking about a free house here Clare, a free house. We're going to be drinking, dancing and riding." Michelle
"Quick question on the awl riding front there, who exactly will be we doing that with?" Erin
"Young, hot farmers, Donegal is coming down with them. Big strapping lads, ripped to fk from all the turf collecting." Michelle
"Ok I'm not buzzing about the sexism, but the fact the wants to thump James is a wee bit exciting." Michelle
"Why have you got a surfboard Joe?" Da Jerry
"Jim across the road gave me the lend." Grandpa Joe
"I'll start again, what are you planning on doing with the surfboard Joe?" Da Jerry
"Surf! It's something I've always fancied doing, ever since I saw that film, the one where the lads try to catch thon big fish." Grandpa Joe
"What film is that?" Da Jerry
"You know, the big fish, the musical fish!" Grandpa Joe
"The musical fish?" Da Jerry
"He hums a tune before he attacks people, they try to catch him, but their boat's too wee." Grandpa Joe
"Are you talking about Jaws?" Da Jerry
"That's the one!" Grandpa Joe
"Jaws made you want to take up surfing?" Da Jerry
"Aye!" Grandpa Joe
"This one's for Erin" Da Jerry
"Oh, private and confidential?" Ma Mary
"Will I stick the kettle on and we'll steam it open Mary?" Aunt Sarah
"That's actually a criminal offence Sarah." Da Jerry
"Your face should be a criminal offence!" Grandpa Joe
"Oh good morning Joe." Da Jerry
"I'm not going to steam open my daughter's mail, come on now Sarah, as if I have time for that…just her national insurance card." Ma Mary
"Aye Halloween is class, there's just something about fancy dress that turns an ordinary night out into an absolute free for all – riding wise." Michelle
"12th November, why is that date familiar? I've booked to see Bjorn Again, I'll have to give this a miss." Aunt Sarah
"You're going to give your own engagement party a miss?" Ma Mary
"Well now to be fair, as ABBA tribute acts go they're the best in the country." Grandpa Joe
"They really are the genuine article." Aunt Sarah
"Except by definition they're not, they are a tribute act." Da Jerry
"And you're an aehole act!" Grandpa Joe**
"But things are just warming up, the real talent will be arriving soon. Trust me, any second now those doors are going to burst open and a load of rides are going to storm in here and snog the faces off us." Young Ma Mary
"That pony tail is going to bring my breakfast up!" Michelle
"Aye Halloween is class, there's just something about fancy dress that turns an ordinary night out into an absolute free for all – riding wise." Michelle
"Oh Jesus, just hand me a spade and let me bury myself." Aunt Sarah
"Where's my Tayto?" Aideen
"There's wiser eating grass!" Michelle
"Don't say knickers in front of your father, he can't cope!" Ma Mary
"If she's not into walls, she's not into walls, Erin love" Aunt Sarah
"We're basically celebrities now, we're like The Corrs" Michelle
"I will buck a French lad so help me god" Michelle
"Ye must think I came up the Foyle in a bubble" Ma Mary
"Slainte, motherfers!" Michelle*
"Macaulay Culkin isn't a Protestant, ma!" Erin
"You don't look like a lesbian" Mae
"What were you doin' heading up Pump Street with a cream horn, pa?" Ma Mary
"Shift your short holes, let's go" Michelle
"I like my kneecaps, Michelle. They suit my knees" Clare
"No funny business with these Protestant lads, is that clear? I don't want anybody landing back here pregnant." Ma Mary
"I spent the summer in Killybegs and, seriously? Not a fucking word" Michelle
"Look, I wanted to be an individual but my ma wouldn't let me" Erin
"I've warned you before, Gerry. You say another bad word about Coronation Street and you may leave this house and never return" Ma Mary
"He's been footering" Granda Joe
"Aye, dead on Gerry. I'm going to give them a whole fiver, that's definitely happenin" Aunt Sarah
"You can't marry an Orangeman Michelle!" Erin
"It's a pity, cos I think there's something really sexy about the fact that they hate us so much" Michelle
"Foreigners fing love the Giant's Causeway" Michelle*
"You can't ring Childline every time your mother threatens to kill you" Michelle
"Protestants hate ABBA!" Orla
"The slightly taller fella, he says to me, says he 'Do you know who we are? And I says to him, says I 'Well I can't be sure now, maybe if you took off the balaclavas" Uncle Colm
"Is it just me, or is that gypsy an absolute ride?" Michelle
"Michelle you can't say that, they're called travellers now, you can't say gypsy anymore, it's insulting" Erin
"This is just wrong" Clare
"So are those ski pants Clare, but it didn't stop you pulling them over your hole this morning" Michelle
"Half-load goes against everything I stand for, you know that da" Ma Mary
"I feel a bit bokey" Michelle
"Howling like a banshee, it was" Uncle Colm
"If I was having an illicit rendezvous with my mistress, I'm not sure that the supermarket where my Father-in-Law is doing the big shop in, would be the best place for it really" Gerry
"Will we need our passports, Gerry?" Orla
"For Belfast, no I don't think so love" Gerry
"I can't find my purse!" Ma Mary
"I can see your purse right there" Gerry
"No that's my sterling purse! I'm talking about my punt purse! I can't find my punt purse Gerry, we are puntless!" Ma Mary
"Relax love, we've a good two or three hours before the rioting starts" Granda Joe
"This doesn't do my baps any justice" Michelle
"Winking! At your age?! Christ, I feel sick" Aunt Sarah
We can't wait to see what antics the gang get up to next!
Derry Girls series three starts on Tuesday 12th April and will be available to watch on Channel 4. You can catch up with Derry Girls season one on Netflix, and both series one and two are available on Channel 4's All 4 on-demand service.
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