When is Derry Girls set and how many episodes is season 3?

Hit Channel 4 coming-of-age comedy Derry Girls has finally returned for its third and final season. The first episode of the series aired last week - with the gang picking up where they left off from the previous two critically-acclaimed outings.

The final season begins with the schoolmates making a short film about the Troubles in Northern Ireland while awaiting their GCSE results. And little has changed in terms of character progression.

Erin remains ambitious and narcissistic while Clare is the studious, neurotic one. Michelle continues to be the wild child while Orla is still eccentric and James...is still English.

Read more: Derry Girls season 3's cast and the other TV shows they have been in

The action in Derry Girls takes place in the mid-1990s against the backdrop of the peace process in Northern Ireland. The first season is set in 1994, with season two set in 1995 and the latest series set in 1996.

The 90s nostalgia is one of the reasons the show has become so popular - along with the razor-sharp script and the memorable characters. The soundtrack reflects the time in which it is set - with season 3 featuring the likes of The Corrs, Texas, 5ive and Shola Ama.

If there are any grumbles about Derry Girls, it’s that there is too little of it. The first two series were six episodes each, running at 25 minutes.

Season 3 is also six episodes of 25 minutes. The first aired on Tuesday 12 April on Channel 4 and new episodes are set to be released weekly at 9.15pm.

The show’s lovable main characters are a big reason why it is so popular with fans. The actors who play them are:

Saoirse-Monica Jackson (The Five, Broken) as Erin Quinn

Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Harlots) as Clare Devlin

Louisa Harland (Love/Hate, Lost in