Lisa McGee Unveils New Netflix Series After Derry Girls Success
Four years after the finale of her award-winning Troubles-set comedy Derry Girls, Northern Irish writer Lisa McGee is back with a fresh project. Her new Netflix series, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, premiered on 12 February 2026, marking a significant shift in genre and focus. McGee, speaking in an interview, revealed her thoughts on the pressure of following up a cultural phenomenon and the creative freedom she embraced for this latest venture.
From Comedy to Mystery: A Genre Shift
Derry Girls, which aired on Channel 4 from 2018 to 2022, became the most-watched series in Northern Ireland since records began, earning critical acclaim and fans like Martin Scorsese. It won three Baftas and an Emmy, with its final episode on the Good Friday Agreement praised for its educational impact. However, McGee felt immense pressure during that time, describing it as a sickening wait for public response. With her new show, she aimed to escape that anxiety, focusing instead on storytelling without the fear of disappointing audiences.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast diverges from Derry Girls by blending mystery thriller elements with comedy. The series follows three dysfunctional women in their late thirties: Saoirse, played by Roisin Gallagher; Robyn, portrayed by Sinéad Keenan; and Dara, acted by Caoilfhionn Dunne. After learning of the death of a childhood friend, they embark on an odyssey through Ireland to uncover truths about their past. McGee noted that stripping out some gags at the last minute helped maintain dramatic stakes, a departure from her usual comedic style.
Signature Humour and Northern Irish Flair
Despite the genre change, McGee's trademark humour remains evident. The show features rapid-fire dialogue and snowballing jokes, a rhythm she insists is crucial for comedy. "If you pause, it's dead," McGee explained, emphasizing the need for speed in delivery. The cast, including Keenan and Dunne, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the fast-paced Northern Irish wit that defines McGee's work.
The series also explores themes of aging and identity, with McGee drawing from her own experiences. At 45, she found that centring the story on women approaching 40 offered rich narrative potential. "When you're approaching 40, people just go mad," McGee laughed, noting the societal pressures to perfect career, relationships, and family life. Dunne, in her early forties, related to this, describing it as a transitional period filled with uncertainty and impending changes.
Personal Insights and Character Development
McGee infused personal elements into the characters, such as Robyn's chaotic motherhood, reflecting her own life as a mother of two sons. Keenan, who also has sons, found it cathartic to channel the frustrations of parenting into her role. Meanwhile, Saoirse's struggles as a showrunner allowed McGee to vent about screenwriting challenges, though she admitted many such scenes were cut from the final script.
In response to industry trends like accommodating "second-screen viewers," McGee expressed optimism that audiences seek complex, challenging content. She believes her shows, known for their brisk pace, cater to viewers who prefer not to be spoon-fed plot points.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is now available on Netflix, offering fans a new chapter in McGee's storytelling journey, blending mystery, comedy, and heartfelt exploration of modern life in Northern Ireland.
