Nearly four years on from the emotional finale of Derry Girls, writer and creator Lisa McGee has released her new project on Netflix.
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast blends her trademark humour with mystery as a group of women reunite following the death of their childhood friend.
«I’ve always loved murder mysteries from when I was a little girl,» McGee told Sky News.
«I was obsessed with Jessica Fletcher and Murder, She Wrote, so it was really like whenever someone gave me the chance to do it, I was going to grab it.
«But I knew I needed to do it my way. I wanted it to be very female-led, have a big comedy element to it, a bit messy.»
The Irish writer’s journey into storytelling began long before the worldwide success of Derry Girls – a comedy set in Northern Ireland in the 1990s about what it’s like to be a teenage girl living amongst conflict.
McGee detailed how, growing up, she’d create plays for the neighbourhood where she lived to act out.
She said: «[I was] doing plays in my street and forcing everyone to be in them, even if they didn’t want to, you know, because everyone’s mum was just like, go and be in Lisa’s play and give me peace for an hour.
«So, I was kind of the unofficial babysitter for the whole street. All the mums loved me, but the kids probably didn’t because I was making them learn lines and stuff like that.»
Lisa McGee’s new project centres on three thirty-something women who reunite following the death of their childhood friend. Pic: Netflix
McGee said, even at a young age, the stories she’d create had a darker element, possibly influenced by her upbringing in Derry before the Good Friday Agreement.
«I remember saying to the executive producer of Derry Girls, Liz Lewin, who works on How to Get to Heaven as well, when I was in London: do you know the way, the army would check your car? And she was like, ‘No, no! What are you talking about?'»
«So, like these little things, I started to realise, oh, there could be something interesting in telling these stories.»
She added: «Outside of Ireland, people couldn’t believe it, but that was what was going on. But it was so every day to us. It just became so part of your routine, and it was only like years later when I moved to London that I actually… realised that’s probably not normal.»
Roisin Gallagher (L), creator Lisa McGee and director Michael Lennox during the filming. Pic: Netflix
McGee decided to ‘grab’ the chance to explore the murder mystery genre. Pic: Netflix
McGee’s latest project, «How To Get To Heaven From Belfast,» is now available on Netflix. The show combines her signature humor with a murder mystery plot as a group of women come together after the passing of their childhood friend.
In an interview with Sky News, McGee expressed her passion for murder mysteries, citing her childhood obsession with shows like «Murder, She Wrote.» She emphasized the importance of creating a female-led, comedic, and slightly messy narrative.
Before the success of «Derry Girls,» McGee had already embarked on a journey of storytelling. She revealed her early experiences of writing and directing plays for her neighborhood, showcasing her natural talent and love for storytelling.
«How To Get To Heaven From Belfast» features familiar faces from McGee’s previous work, including Sinead Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne, and Roisin Gallagher. The show has garnered attention for its engaging storyline and talented cast.
While a second season is not confirmed, McGee expressed her eagerness to continue working with the cast and creating more stories for the audience to enjoy.
For fans of McGee’s work, «How To Get To Heaven From Belfast» is a must-watch on Netflix. Don’t miss out on this captivating blend of humor, mystery, and female-centric storytelling.
Roisin Gallagher (L), creator Lisa McGee and director Michael Lennox during the filming. Pic: Netflix
Lisa McGee’s new project centers on three thirty-something women who reunite following the death of their childhood friend. It explores the darker elements of storytelling, possibly influenced by McGee’s upbringing in Derry before the Good Friday Agreement.
McGee recalls moments from her past that seemed normal in Ireland but were eye-opening to others, leading her to realize the potential of sharing these stories. She aims to depict truthful narratives of life in Derry and Belfast, showcasing the complexity and humor of Irish culture.
Pic: Netflix
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, now available on Netflix, follows three women as they come together after the loss of a childhood friend. Starring Roisin Gallagher, Sinead Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne, the series blends murder mystery with comedy, featuring familiar faces from Derry Girls in new roles.
McGee expresses her desire for a potential second season, highlighting her love for the characters and the talented cast. She hopes to continue sharing stories from her roots and exploring the rich history and humor of Ireland.
McGee’s history of storytelling began long before the success of Derry Girls. Pic: Netflix
McGee’s storytelling journey started long before Derry Girls, reflecting her passion for sharing authentic narratives. Her latest project continues to delve into the complexities of Irish life, blending humor and history to create compelling stories.
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast is out on Netflix now.
Nearly four years on from the emotional finale of Derry Girls, writer and creator Lisa McGee has released her new project on Netflix.
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast blends her trademark humour with mystery as a group of women reunite following the death of their childhood friend.
«I’ve always loved murder mysteries from when I was a little girl,» McGee told Sky News.
«But I knew I needed to do it my way. I wanted it to be very female-led, have a big comedy element to it, a bit messy.»
The Irish writer’s journey into storytelling began long before the worldwide success of Derry Girls – a comedy set in Northern Ireland in the 1990s about what it’s like to be a teenage girl living amongst conflict.
McGee detailed how, growing up, she’d create plays for the neighbourhood where she lived to act out.
She said: «[I was] doing plays in my street and forcing everyone to be in them, even if they didn’t want to, you know, because everyone’s mum was just like, go and be in Lisa’s play and give me peace for an hour.»
«So, I was kind of the unofficial babysitter for the whole street. All the mums loved me, but the kids probably didn’t because I was making them learn lines and stuff like that.»
McGee said, even at a young age, the stories she’d create had a darker element, possibly influenced by her upbringing in Derry before the Good Friday Agreement.
She added: «Outside of Ireland, people couldn’t believe it, but that was what was going on. But it was so every day to us. It just became so part of your routine, and it was only like years later when I moved to London that I actually… realised that’s probably not normal.»
«I was inspired by the familiarity of Derry and Belfast to tell truthful depictions of living in those cities,» she said. «I wanted to see stories about Irish women that weren’t just tragic and serious. I want to keep telling stories about where I come from and explore the rich history and humor of Ireland.»
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast follows three thirty-something women reuniting after the death of a childhood friend. Starring familiar faces from Derry Girls, the murder mystery comedy features Roisin Gallagher, Sinead Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne.
McGee hopes for a second season of the show, stating, «I love writing for these characters and working with such talented and funny actors. I would do it again in a heartbeat, but it ultimately depends on the viewership.»
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast is now available on Netflix.