Derry Girls fans were left in shock when a very familiar face had a cameo appearance in the first episode of the long-awaited third series.
While some viewers instantly recognised the actor, others thought the intimidating police officer who interrogated the main characters was actually Ted Hastings from Line of Duty.
Watch the scene below:
Once Chief Constable Byers' face could be seen clearly, fans realised it was not Adrian Dunbar, who portrays Ted Hastings in the BBC's police drama. It's Taken actor Liam Neeson and fans couldn't believe their eyes.
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“Thought it was Ted Hastings and ended up with Liam Neeson,” one fan quipped on Twitter. “F**k me what a good episode. What a show #DerryGirls.”
Another viewer said Neeson’s character was definitely inspired by Line of Duty. They wrote: “I love that Liam Neeson is in #DerryGirls but I love it more that he pretty much played the copper like Ted Hastings from Line of Duty”.
While a third shocked fan tweeted: “They got Liam Neeson?!!! I was hoping for Ted Hastings, but that was so much better!!”
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Similarly, a fourth person penned: “When you think it's Ted Hastings and then his face comes out of the shadow and it's LIAM NEESON #DerryGirls”.
Neeson, who is from Northern Ireland, shows up in Derry as a member of the police force who is tasked with interrogating Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Clare (Nicola Coughlan) and the rest of the lifelong pals after they attempt to break into their school to get a sneak peak of their GCSE results.
Most viewers were happy to see the Taken actor in the show.
One fan reacted to the cameo with: “Could Derry Girls have gotten any better?…. Eh yea it can by LIAM NEESON MAKING AN APPEARANCE!!! #DerryGirls”.
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While a second tweeted: “Keeping Liam Neeson's guest appearance under wraps for this must have been the best kept secret in Derry…”
However some viewers were left feeling more conflicted following Neeson’s controversial comments about wanting to kill an innocent black men in an interview for The Independent. Neeson responded to the backlash in an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America in which he said: “I’m not racist.”
One Derry Girls fan shared: “I guess it’s ok to like Liam Neeson again because technically Derry Girls is set in the 90s…before his racist cosh comments from 2019.
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“In all seriousness though, it’s good that we can forgive and accept that people can grow and change. If we can’t, what’s the point?”
Derry Girls is available to watch on All4 now.
Topics: TV And Film, Derry Girls, Channel 4
Gregory Robinson