Northern Ireland

Disappointment for Derry Girls fans as show pipped at Bafta awards ceremony

Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson attending the BAFTA awards, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture by Matt Crossick/PA Wire
Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson attending the BAFTA awards, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture by Matt Crossick/PA Wire Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson attending the BAFTA awards, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Picture by Matt Crossick/PA Wire

THERE was disappointment amongst fans of hit TV series Derry Girls last night after the show missed out on an accolade at the Bafta TV awards.

The popular Channel 4 show, based on life in 1990s Derry, was pipped to the award for scripted comedy by Sally4Ever on Sky Atlantic.

However, speaking before the award ceremony in London, Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson, said the cast were "extremely proud" of the "female-led" show and that being at the awards was the "icing on top".

Patrick Kielty's documentary entitled 'My Dad, the Peace Deal and Me' was nominated in the single documentary category.

In the programme the Co Down TV star, whose father Jack was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries, examined the legacy of the peace process 20 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

However, the acclaimed documentary missed out to Gun No 6, which told the story of Britain's deadliest illegal gun.

Mrs Wilson, the BBC drama about the wife of an MI6 agent which was filmed in Belfast and Newtownards, was nominated in the mini-series category but was pipped by Benedict Cumberbatch's Patrick Melrose.

Other award winners included Britain's Got Talent for best entertainment programme, Benedict Cumberbatch as best leading actor, while best leading actress went to Jodie Comer for her role in Killing Eve.

The most unusual outfit of the night came courtesy of Daisy May Cooper, who was in the running for best female comedy performance for This Country.

She donned the red carpet in a dress made from bin liners, adding: "The reason I'm wearing this is if I wore a normal dress, that would cost a lot of money and I thought I'd donate that money to a local food bank and wear bin bags instead."