Derry Girls Fans Left Sobbing Over Shock Ending

Warning! Major Derry Girls spoilers ahead!

Derry Girls viewers were in floods of tears on Tuesday night after enduring a heartbreaking twist ending in the show's finale.

The beloved Channel 4 comedy is set to wrap this week, with a one-hour special airing on Wednesday night – news that will be a welcome relief to fans who were left traumatised by last night's devastating storyline.

In episode six of the final season, the Erin, Michelle, Orla, Clare, and James managed to score tickets to the gig of the century, as renowned DJ Fatboy Slim plays at the Halloween Ball.

After some fumbling, fighting and fibbing, the gang are dressed in their feather-clad angel costumes and even get into the VIP section to get some one-on-one time with Slim himself.

Although the meet-and-greet doesn't exactly go to plan, the most exciting moment came when Clare Devlin (Nicola Coughlan) got lucky with another 'lezzie' at the party – even discussing the possibility of 'going steady'.

But as her besties celebrated Clare's achievement, a solemn-faced Gerry (Tommy Tiernan) was soon on the scene to share some catastrophic news with the girls – Clare's father had suffered an aneurysm not long after dropping them off to the Halloween Ball.

Despite their best hopes, the friends are later met by Clare in the hospital waiting room to tell them, through tears, that her dad has passed away. Clare is quickly surrounded by arms, wings, and feathers as her four best friends swaddle her in a group hug.

As if that wasn't enough to set off the waterworks, the next scene saw Gerry helping to carry the casket at Clare's father's funeral, as the students of Our Lady Immaculate College form a guard of honour. While Michelle, Erin, Orla and James cling tightly to Clare, Ma Mary, Aunt Sarah, and Michelle's mum Deirdre hold on to Clare's mother Geraldine.

Fans were speechless after the finale's heartbreaking ending and took to Twitter to discuss.

One fan praised the episode: "This new derry girls episode was everything, it’s exactly what death is like. nothing prepares you for it, one minute everything’s fine and the next they’re gone – f***ing amazing".

Another viewer posted a meme of Oscar Isaac looking sad and said: "I am never gonna emotionally recover from that episode #DerryGirls."

A third overwhelmed fan shared: "I am not okay after that episode, so much happened im all over the place #DerryGirls."

Another applauded the humour and sadness in the episode, tweeting: "So sad. That’s the sign of brilliant writing, to have you laughing out loud one minute and crying the next."

Derry Girls will conclude with a one-hour special on Wednesday night at 9pm on Channel 4.