How Lisa McGee’s ‘How To Get To Heaven From Belfast’ Balances Nostalgia and Change After Moving from Channel 4 to Netflix
New Series ‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ Reimagines True Crime Through a Female Lens
Lisa McGee’s latest creation, "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast," offers a refreshing twist on the true crime genre, which has often been perceived as male-dominated.
In an interview, McGee shared her passion for true crime, stating that it is widely appreciated by women as well. Notable favorites of hers include S-Town, Sweet Bobby, and West Cork. Her deep interest in the genre informed the framework for "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast," which stars Roisin Gallagher, Sinéad Keenan, and Caoilfhionn Dunne. McGee praised the cast for their “ensemble chemistry” and their ability to balance comedic and emotional moments, saying, “To walk that line as an actor and go from the really stupid stuff to the more emotional stuff is so hard. They sell everything.”
The series follows a trio of childhood friends—Saoirse, a clever TV writer; Robyn, a frazzled mother of three; and Dara, a reliable carer—as they navigate their late thirties and face the death of a long-estranged member of their group. This triggers an odyssey through Ireland, beginning with mysterious events at the funeral.
McGee, known for her successful Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls, incorporates her personal experiences into her writing. She mentioned a "creepy experience at school" that inspired elements of the new series. The setting of her former convent school, now in disrepair and rumored to attract ghost hunters, sparked a creative vision for McGee. “I just had this feeling I was going to bump into myself as a teenager,” she recalled, leading her to conceptualize a nuanced storyline.
Saoirse, the protagonist, who writes a fictional detective show called Murder Code, serves as a loose representation of McGee herself, while her two friends reflect aspects of the creator’s real-life relationships. McGee emphasized that although Saoirse was the first character she developed, her complexity far exceeds her own.
The initial pilot for "How to Get to Heaven" was drafted before the final season of Derry Girls was filmed. McGee expressed a desire to break away from the characters that had historically occupied her creative thoughts, stating, “I needed [the Derry Girls characters] to stop talking in my head.”
Despite the challenges associated with transitioning from a Channel 4 sitcom to a big-budget Netflix series, McGee asserted that the former was more demanding. She explained, “Derry Girls is really tough to write…I couldn’t spin anything to the end of the next episode. With How to Get to Heaven, you can leave something for episode five.”
Enthusiastic about collaborating with a writers’ room for this project, McGee acknowledged the benefits of shared creativity. Writers like Ava Pickett and her husband Tobias Beer contributed diverse emotional ranges and horror elements. She found this collaborative process highly rewarding, contrasting it with the solitary nature of her previous work on Derry Girls.
The deeply personal essence of McGee’s narratives is often rooted in her experiences growing up during the Irish Troubles. While addressing how the past intersects with humor in her writing, she noted, “The echo of The Troubles is always there. The characters are from there so I guess it’s there in the subtext.” McGee views this depth as an enriching aspect of her comedy.
Transitioning from Channel 4 to Netflix presented unique challenges for "How to Get to Heaven." The initial announcement from Channel 4 arrived amid an industry upheaval, citing rising costs and shifts in editorial direction. Reflecting on this tumultuous era, McGee said, “It was a really bad time. This traditional way of making a TV show just stopped overnight.” She recognized that Netflix ultimately provided the right platform for her vision, but expressed a desire to collaborate with Channel 4 in the future.
Looking ahead, McGee is contemplating a comedy mockumentary and a second season of "How to Get to Heaven." While she remains open to future developments, she noted that the decision depends on viewer interest. “I’ve left it open for a second series, but it’s all completely down to how many people watch,” she added.
With the series now available on Netflix worldwide, McGee’s journey encapsulates a blend of personal fulfillment and comedic exploration, resonating with audiences eager for fresh narratives in the realm of true crime.
Image: Netflix/Christopher Barr © 2025
Lisa McGee. Image: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty
