Actress Nicola Coughlan has explained the real reason Clare was left on the train platform during the recent instalment of Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls. The gerry joined the Quinn family for a trip to Barry's amusement park in Portrush but after a last-minute rush to get on the train, they realised they'd left Clare behind.
When Clare emerged from the toilets just moments after the train departed, in usual Clare style, she went into panic mode and realised she'd missed the train. She then spent the next 20 minutes awkwardly sitting with Sister Michael and forced to listen to the train station's ticket officer's detailed sex life - but there was another reason Clare was 'forgotten' in last night's episode.
It had been widely reported before the new series started that Nicola Coughlan, who has played Derry Girl Clare Devlin since the sitcom first broadcast in 2018, had to have her role cut in the final series due to clashes in her filming schedule. The 35-year-old was in the middle of shooting the second series of Netflix's hit period drama Bridgerton, where she plays Penelope Featherington, when filming started on Derry Girls.
Taking to her Instagram stories after the episode, Nicola explained how she'd tried her "hardest" to be part of every moment of the new series. She posted: "Thank you to everyone who's watching and enjoying Derry Girls. Please know I would've been in every moment possible if I could've been and I tried my hardest to make that happen, but the schedule didn't work out that way. Eternally grateful to Shondaland for getting me to Belfast as soon as they possibly could".
Fans were quick to spot that the star was missing at the start of last night's episode and took to Twitter. Eleni tweeted: "I'm assuming that this episode was part of the nicola/clare script cut??? #DerryGirls" whilst Shane Christie added: "Very certain that this is the Claire was away filming Bridgerton episode. #DerryGirls". Niall MacLáimh said: "Mad how they left Claire behind in Bridgerton...... the train station this week. #DerryGirls".
Many shared how they missed the actress, "I miss Clare #DerryGirls," Catherine whilst others wondered if she ever managed to meet up with the other Derry Girls, Meg Reeves added: "But did Claire make the train? Did she meet the others at the fairground? What about Sr Michael, did she get to where she needed to be? #DerryGirls"
Derry Girls continues to air on Tuesday's on Channel 4 and All 4 from 9pm. You can watch the previous two series on All 4.
