Entertainment

Dramatic Catastrophe finale marks Carrie Fisher's last TV role

Viewers got to see the late actress at her witty best in the season finale.
Viewers got to see the late actress at her witty best in the season finale. Viewers got to see the late actress at her witty best in the season finale.

The season finale of Channel 4′s Catastrophe featured Carrie Fisher in her last TV role as the hilarious and profanity loving mother of Rob.

Carrie’s portrayal as Rob Delaney’s character’s irritating mother Mia in the Bafta-winning sitcom saw her threatening to kill him for a drinking relapse while also being generally rather annoying to everyone around her.

The Star Wars actress filmed her scenes as Mia just days before she suffered a cardiac arrest on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher (Ian West/PA)

She died shortly afterwards at the age of 60 on December 27.

Having previously appeared in the earlier seasons of Catastrophe, Carrie did not appear until the sixth and final episode of the third series.

And the scenes in which she appeared were particularly poignant as Carrie joined the rest of the cast at a funeral in Ireland for the father of her daughter-in-law Sharon (Sharon Horgan).

Rob and Sharon are baffled as Mia strikes up an unlikely friendship with Sharon’s widowed mother Carol (Frances Tomelty) after she insensitively asks to leave the funeral early to buy some Irish wool sweaters.

Later in the episode, recovering alcoholic Rob confesses to Mia that he has started drinking again and is keeping it a secret from Sharon.

Catastrophe
Catastrophe
Catastrophe (Ed Miller)

Carrie’s Mia scolds him, telling him: “You can’t drink! You’re just like your father.

“You know how my jaw always clicks when I eat steak? It’s because your father broke it. That’s why I kicked him out.”

When Rob asks why he was unaware of that, she says: “Why would my little boy need to know that his daddy got drunk and punched his mummy in the head?

“You put a plug in the jug mister, because if you ever hit Sharon, I’ll f***ing kill you.”

She adds: “Your being drunk and with her being as annoying as she is, you’re going to hit her.”

The episode took inspiration from the programme’s name, ending with a catastrophe as Rob was involved in a car accident after drinking alcohol.

Catastrophe
Catastrophe
Catastrophe (Ed Miller)

Rob and Sharon, the show’s creators as well as leading stars, previously said they “idolised” Carrie and that the entire third series was a tribute to her.

Sharon said: “She was part of the gang and we really feel very privileged and honoured.

“She was funny all the time and incredibly witty company and loved saying a**holey things to everyone but also was just a kind, lovely, supportive person.”

Carrie and her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds – who died the day after her daughter in December – were remembered at a public memorial in Hollywood just over a week ago.

Hundreds of fans turned out to pay tribute to the mother and daughter, who were both laid to rest at a funeral in January.