Chelsea Clinton makes surprise cameo in special 'Derry Girls' episode

The Northern Irish comedy series has ended after three seasons

The main characters in 'Derry Girls' wrote Chelsea a letter in season two but they never received a reply. AP Photo

Chelsea Clinton made a surprise cameo appearance in the emotional final episode of Derry Girls which paid tribute to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

The hit Channel 4 comedy series came to an end with an extended special episode exploring the key moment in Northern Irish history after the third season finale was shown on Tuesday.

After an emotional goodbye to the cast as they were seen voting in favour of the agreement, fans were treated to a post-credits scene featuring the daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, to bring closure to an earlier storyline.

In season two, the show made reference to the former US president's trip to Northern Ireland in 1995, with the main characters Clare, Erin, Orla, Michelle and James writing Chelsea a letter but they never received a reply.

In the post-credits scene, which is set in present-day New York, a postal worker delivers the letter to Chelsea, who is now 42, explaining that it had been intercepted while on its way to the White House in the 1990s.

She reads out the note written by the Derry teenagers, who ask if she would like to "hang out" with them when she arrives in Northern Ireland with her parents, saying: "If they're anything like our parents, well you'll be bored out of your tree."

They said that they expected it would be "pretty difficult" for her to meet boys owing to being the president's daughter as they imagined it would "intimidate a lot of fellas" and they offered for her to practise "her moves" on James if she would like.

Speaking about the series and her guest appearance, Clinton said: "Thanks to Lisa McGee's incredible talent, and that of the wonderful cast and crew of Derry Girls, people around the world have been able to better understand and relate to a hugely significant and important period of history in Northern Ireland and for the world.

"Like many, I am a big fan of the series, and I was honoured to be able to appear in the very special final episode. I hope people enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed being a part of it."

The final 'Derry Girls' episode

The special instalment returned to Derry as Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland) and friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell) and Michelle's English cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn) prepare for their final year of school.

Set in 1998, in the week of the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement, which set out a peace accord for the troubled factions in Northern Ireland, the episode explored the real-life tensions of the time while offering light relief as Erin and Orla attempt to throw a joint 18th birthday party.

In classic Derry Girls style, things do not quite go to plan when their mothers forget to book out the community hall, so they have to share it with a group of young girls celebrating their first communion.

Things continue to spiral as the friends' nemesis Jenny Joyce hosts her birthday on the same day, stealing all their guests in the process with the promise of a magician and Riverdance.

The group also faces tension as Erin and Michelle have an argument about the peace agreement as Erin feels it is not right that paramilitary prisoners could be released as part of the conditions while Michelle reminds her that her brother is in jail for such a crime.

Clare, who has moved away following her father's death, later comes to save the day by sabotaging the electrics at Jenny's party, so they all have to relocate to Erin and Orla's party.

As the episode draws to a close, Erin reflects on the importance of growing up and moving on.

The message becomes particularly poignant for the end of the comedy series and the historical moment as she speaks over video footage of The Troubles and discussions had by key political characters including former prime minister Tony Blair, former Northern Ireland first minister and DUP leader Ian Paisley and former deputy first minister and Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness.

Erin says: "It's good, it's exciting and maybe a wee bit scary too. There's a part of me that wishes that everything could just stay the same. That we could all just stay like this forever.

"There's a part of me that doesn't really want to grow up. I'm not sure if I'm ready for it. I'm not sure I'm ready for the world. But things can't stay the same and they shouldn't.

"No matter how scary it is, we have to move on. And we have to grow up because things, they might just change for the better.

"So we have to be brave. And if our dreams get broken along the way, we have to make new ones from the pieces."

The characters have their final moments together in the polling station as they vote in favour of the peace agreement.

As they walk out together, a voice-over by a news presenter says, "Yes — 71.12 per cent. A record-breaking turnout and an overwhelming majority.

"The people of Northern Ireland have spoken. The country has just taken its first step into the future."

Irish screenwriter Lisa McGee wrote the show's three seasons.

In the UAE, 'Derry Girls' seasons one and two are available to watch on Netflix