Lisa McGee

Derry Girls, written by Lisa McGee, was another returning comedy that refused to succumb to "difficult second series" syndrome. Set in 1990s Northern Ireland, against the backdrop of the Troubles, Derry Girls once again boasted a sprawling cast with spirit to burn. Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) pontificated about peace from a bath, while Orla (Louisa Harland) sniped: "She's pretending she's on Parkinson again." Ma Mary (Tara Lynne O'Neill) obsessed over a "big bowl", while lesbian Clare (Nicola Coughlan) suffered Da Gerry's (Tommy Tiernan's) attempts to bond with her about kd lang ("You're very talented people").

This episode featured a hopeless Protestant/Catholic school bonding trip, not helped by Jamie Lee O'Donnell's incorrigible Michelle, a girl so lairy I wouldn't put it past her to give a priest a wedgie. Meanwhile, "Small angry penguin woman" Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney) was on scene-stealing form again: "You'll go far in life, Jenny, but you'll not be well liked."

Derry Girls has been rightly praised for turning tired Northern Irish stereotypes to ashes in front of our eyes. It's also damn funny, with an ensemble so fine-tuned it verges on comedic ballet, and prickly writing that even dares to lampoon the yearning for peace: "All right, Erin, there's no need to make a big song and dance about it". Great stuff.

Derry Girls interviews

"We get free blow-dries whenever we want. It's crackin'"

Lisa McGee's rumbustious rabble return for a second series set against the backdrop of the Troubles. You expect chaos when you hear the words "Outdoor pursuits weekend" and not even Sister Michael can put to a stop to the high jinks when the (Catholic) girls are billeted with a bunch of Protestant boys.

Lisa McGee: We can never, ever go back to violence here

Creator Lisa McGee says that if there's one thing she learned from writing Derry Girls it's that we would be crazy to jeopardise peace in Northern Ireland.

Derry Girls series two review

Lisa McGee's comedy is that rare thing - a hysterical and moving show about life as an adolescent girl. And with a bus-load of Protestant lads pitching up, it shows no sign of fading.

TV preview: Derry Girls, C4

This is a show that rarely hits a bum note.

Lisa McGee would 'love to' make a Derry Girls movie

"We have to see how this series goes down first. If people like it then I'd love to make another series and then maybe after that, if that (a film) was an option, we'd think about it."