Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Wednesday 19°CThursday 15°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Derry CityEntertainmentNews

‘A private Channel 4 wouldn’t make this Derry Girls’

written by cassoscoop April 12, 2022
ShareTweet

Saoirse-Monica Jackson says a privatised Channel 4 would not make Derry Girls

TV programmes like Derry Girls “would never get made” if Channel 4 was to be privatised, says one of the stars of the show.

The government announced last week that it wants to privatise the TV channel.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries says government ownership is “holding Channel 4 back”, but others say the quality of programmes on the station would suffer as a result.

For Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson, the news was “devastating”.

“To be honest I think it’s absolutely terrible,” the actress, who plays Erin in the show, tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

“I’d be really worried about undiscovered talent and the lack of that ever being brought to our forefront and being pushed.

“I think you need the opportunity to grow and writers need the opportunity to have comedies come out on Channel 4 and be nourished.”

The culture secretary says a change of ownership will give Channel 4 “the tools and freedom to flourish and thrive as a public service broadcaster long into the future”.

Saoirse Monica-Jackson on the red carpet in Derry last Thursday for premiere of series 3 of Derry Girls

Saoirse-Monica was speaking ahead of the third and final series of Derry Girls which airs on Channel 4 tonight, Tuesday, April 12, at 9.15 pm.

“This series has been so anticipated by all of us – it’s like when you’re younger and you imagine a situation like a school trip,” she says.

“You love it before it happens – it sort of feels like that,” she says.

Derry Girls, which first aired on Channel 4 in 2018, follows four teenage girls – and “a wee English fella” – growing up in Derry during the 1990s.

It follows the group as they navigate the ups and downs of teenage life, all in the shadow of the final years of The Troubles.

Derry Girls has been a massive success for Channel 4, winning Royal Television Society Awards, Irish Film and Television Awards and being nominated for BAFTAs.

Saoirse-Monica says one of the reasons it’s been received so well is because people in Northern Ireland have the ability to look at politics and serious issues through a comedic lens.

“There’s a real emotional intelligence with Irish people from the north,” she says.

“We can approach such hard-hitting issues in a social way with comedy, it makes it more accessible for everybody as a group.

“How Lisa [McGee], the writer, has done it, through the eyes of a teenage girl, brings such an innocence and naivety to it and I think with that brings more truth, it gets people on board and it’s just really clever.”

Talking about the new season, Saoirse-Monica says she believes the show gets “that epic finale that we were wanting”.

Channel 4 releases first look at the final series of Derry Girls which airs tonight

Fans will see Erin, Michelle, Orla, Clare and James get their GCSE results in the new season, and although this is the final hurrah for the programme, Saoirse-Monica says: “Weirdly, it doesn’t really feel like it’s the end.”

“I don’t think you can ever really process something like that until you have hindsight on it,” she adds.

The 28-year-old says she’s really proud of what the cast and crew have done with the new series, adding: “Lisa has done such an amazing job.

“Derry Girls consumes me completely, I’m from here and I love the part so, so much and I don’t think there’ll ever be another job like this.”

‘A private Channel 4 wouldn’t make this Derry Girls’ was last modified: April 12th, 2022 by cassoscoop

Tags:
'A private Channel 4 wouldn't make this Derry Girls'CHANNEL 4Culture Secretary Nadine DorriesDERRY GIRLSSaoirse-Monica JacksonTHE TROUBLESWRITER LISA MCGEE
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Derry sewer works delayed to avoid Foyle...

5 hours ago

Autism friendly banking at AIB Derry

11 hours ago

Limited parking at Council facilities during Foyle...

11 hours ago

Labour Market training on machinery

11 hours ago

Eastwood challenges Prime Minister: No killer can...

11 hours ago

Feile 2025 unveil biggest programme of events

1 day ago

Loughs Agency delivers extensive fisheries improvement works...

1 day ago

Alcohol Forum Ireland seeks Finance Administrator/Bookkeeper for...

2 days ago

Motorcyclist seriously injured in Donegal collision

3 days ago

Council officially adopts Local Development Plan, LDP...

3 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Woman charged over serious assault in Derry

    July 13, 2025
  • Man to face Derry court over cannabis plants seizure

    July 11, 2025
  • Man charged to court over Derry drugs seizure

    July 6, 2025
  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy