‘Talking Derry Girls’ podcast talks to Lisa McGee

The Talking Derry Girls podcast was launched during lockdown by three Derry girls - Pauline Moore, Jeanie Messenger and Marie Louise Muir - who all met in the 1990s when working at Radio Foyle.

The podcast was originally 12 episodes to run alongside Series one and two of the show, but when creator Lisa McGee got in touch, the team had no choice but to go for episode 13.

Talking Derry Girls has been a sleeper hit of Lockdown. Started in May, it is recorded remotely, with Marie Louise in Belfast, Pauline in Glasgow and Jeanie in Working.

Lisa McGee summed up the podcast when she tweeted: “Obsessed with this podcast, it uses Derry Girls as spine but it’s really just three close friends talking about their experiences of the troubles and it’s hilarious.”

Despite now living in different parts of the UK, and recording remotely from their homes, the trio’s chemistry has been widely commented on and has seen the podcast downloaded in the UK, USA and other parts of the world.

Talking Derry Girls has recently been rated as a must listen in the Great British Podcasts weekly picks newsletter.

episode 13

For Episode 13, which is now live, the Talking Derry Girls podcast meets the Derry Girls creator.

This extra special episode of the podcast Talking Derry Girls with Lisa McGee happened because the creator of the globally successful sitcom became a fan. Lisa McGee was an obvious choice for the first ever guest. Talking Derry Girls plan to continue the podcast with more guests and stories from Derry. Speaking on episode 13, Lisa said: “I love the podcast so much. It’s the only podcast that isn’t about people getting murdered that I listen to now.”

She said the Talking Derry Girls podcast is like over-hearing a conversation between friends.

But while she loves it, she found herself thinking on more than one occasion: “Oh for !!**?? sake I could have used that, that and that!”

Referring to some of Jeanie’s stories, in particular one about a reporter and a taxi driver spending a night in her parent’s bedroom, Lisa said:

“I was so annoyed that I hadn’t heard it before writing Series three. It’s just the best thing.” Jeanie said she would pass the kind words on to her mother, as it was her story and she was merely retelling it.

Lisa jokes that when the Derry Girls movie comes along, she’ll be contacting the Talking Derry Girls trio to tell them she’s stealing some of their stories and not to sue her!

Pauline quipped that they’d be okay with that, in exchange for a cameo as customers in Dennis’s Wee Shop.

Lisa also talks openly about why she wrote the series with teen girls to the fore, having rarely seen female voices leading in sitcoms. “My female friends are funnier than my male friends and that’s what I wanted to show,” she said.

Lisa reveals that she’s always on set and is strict about the script being delivered word for word. The only person allowed the odd ad-lib is Tommy Tiernan. Other behind the scenes tales include the hilarity caused by Kevin McAleer as Uncle Colm. When he recounts the story of being tied to a radiator by his new shoelaces, director Michael Lennox had to clear the set - as the kitchen table was shaking because the rest of the cast were laughing so much!

Talking Derry Girls is available through podcast providers, and more information can be found www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls