It's official — series three of Channel 4's Derry Girls is is landing on our screens in April [1]. On announcing the third series, the show's creator, Lisa McGee, also confirmed that series three would be the last [2]. "It was always the plan to say goodbye after three series," McGee shared on Twitter. "Derry Girls is a coming of age story; following five ridiculous teenagers as they slowly . . . very slowly . . . start to become adults while around them the place they call home starts to change too and Northern Ireland enters a new more hopeful phase — which was a small, magical window of time."
Either way, we are excited to see what our favourite brash and completely lovable group of Northern Ireland teenagers [3] has been up to. Season two left us with a lot of questions, namely whether Erin and James will finally get together, or whether the social issues of a 1990s Northern Ireland will keep them apart.
At this stage, details are slim, but we suggest you keep on reading to catch up on all the news we do know. Plus, stay tuned for more updates as they come out ahead of the show's release on 12 April.
When Is the Release Date for Series 3 in the UK?
In April 2019, it was announced that Channel 4 had renewed "Derry Girls" for a third season, but a premiere date still hadn't been set. Fast-forward to March 2022, and it's been confirmed that series 3 will air on 12 April.
No need for a petition we're filming Derry Girls 3 next year! https://t.co/pmZBTwNR3C [4]
— Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) July 27, 2019 [5]
Derry Girls Season 3 Cast
As we hoped, it is expected that the band will be getting back together for Derry Girls season three. Saoirse-Monica Jackson will return as the ambitious — and, ahem, worldly — Erin Quinn; Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as our favourite foul-mouthed teen, Michelle Mallon; Dylan Llewellyn as the token Brit, James Maguire; Nicola Coughlan [6] as the hilariously skittish — but clever — Clare Devlin; and Louisa Harland as the unpredictable Orla McCool. Let's be honest, the show couldn't exist without the girls — and boy — returning.
As for the supporting cast, Tara Lynne O'Neill will return to her role as Erin's straight-talking mum, Ma (aka Mary); Kathy Kiera Clarke will once again play the cool Aunt Sarah; and Siobhan McSweeney will take back her place behind the headmistress's desk as Sister Michael. Of course, that means Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan is expected to return as Erin's Dad, Da (aka Gerry); Game of Thrones' Ian McElhinney will play Granda Joe; his brother, Uncle Colm, will be played by Kevin McAleer; and Leah O'Rourke will fill the (goody two) shoes of Jenny Joyce.
Derry Girls Season 3 Plot
Derry Girls is a hilarious coming-of-age sitcom set in the Northern Ireland town of Londonderry, during the turbulent 1990s (referred to as "The Troubles"). Centred on a group of four teenage girls and one English boy, the show follows the teens as they navigate the hideously awkward adolescent years.
Even with British Army checkpoints, armed police, and "peace walls", they are constantly getting into trouble — if not by their parents, then with their wonderfully surly headmistress, Sister Michael.
Season one saw James (the lone English boy we mentioned earlier) join the fray and Clare's coming-out narrative.
As for Derry Girls season two, the main plot points include a budding romance between Erin and James. Proving that the old playground tactic of giving your biggest crush the most hell is still alive and well, fans of the show were excited when James saves her from complete social decimation when he turns up as her prom date after she is stood up. When asked by Radio Times [7] whether there is a romantic future for the pair in season three, writer Lisa McGee said, "I think there might be".
The most memorable moment is at the end of season two with a speech by Bill Clinton, which is based on a real visit he made to the area in November 1995.
What Year Will Derry Girls Season 3 Be Set In?
Just like the plot, the year that Derry Girls season three is set in hasn't been confirmed yet. In fact, it was never really confirmed what year season two was set in either, although it was hinted at by the arrival of Bill Clinton in Londonderry, which took place in November 1995. In an interview with Radio Times [8] in April 2019, writer Lisa McGee seemed as confused as any of us; while she has previously alluded to the fact that Derry Girls would tell the story up until 1998 — the year of the Good Friday Agreement — she admitted there was still a lot of work to do on creating the plot and figuring out how this would chronologically work, saying, "I haven't a clue how to do it yet . . . "
That said, McGee did confirm that season three would take place in a more hopeful period for Northern Ireland, picking up where season two left off, in 1995.