"It's a good job you have the Economy 7."
Following
a huge response to the new Irish TV show of the moment, the sensational Derry Girls
has been commissioned for a second series by Channel 4 after just one episode.
The series follows six teenagers Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and Michelle’s tag along English cousin – aka The Wee English Fella – James, as they deal with teenage life in 1990s Derry.
Episode two introduced us to a whole new set of characters including Fionnuala the local chipper owner and Uncle Colm, who took the nation by storm.
Main character Erin's grand uncle told his tale of being kept hostage by balaclava-clad men to an extremely bored audience – which only spurred the nation's conversation regarding ''we all know an Uncle Colm.''
https://twitter.com/JulieMaher77/status/951578862537859072
And the [Twitter] crowd went wild.
https://twitter.com/Dizzy_Daphne/status/951578290921328640
https://twitter.com/Rachelagain/status/951577976629587970
https://twitter.com/lclarke13/status/951578182527971330
https://twitter.com/primitivelirry/status/951578289260388352
https://twitter.com/_PCollinsMusic/status/951578285183561728
https://twitter.com/nalaknip/status/951578282473992192
https://twitter.com/JimmyRehman/status/951578256402255872
Uncle Colm was portrayed by veteran Irish comedian Kevin McAleer who was the original casting preference for the role of Dougal on Father Ted.
McAleer was once said to have put the “dead” back into “deadpan”, thanks in no small part to his signature act: delivering stories in a drawling Tyrone accent. He came to prominence on Irish comedy series Nighthawks in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_RMtek_P7A
His accurate depiction of the relative-who-doesn't-know-when-to-shut-up struck a chord with Irish audiences on Thursday night with talks to Electric 7s and wee men with balaclavas.
A class act and an even better casting decision.
Derry Girls' next episode airs Thursday, 18 January at 10pm on Channel 4.
