Normal People’s Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones have joined up with Fleabag’s ‘Hot Priest’ Andrew Scott in a hilarious sketch to raise money for RTÉ does Comic Relief, to help with the coronavirus pandemic in Ireland.
Last week it was announced that there would be two new bonus episodes of the TV adaption of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, including a short sketch entitled ‘Older Normal People’ which shows Connell and Marianne 40 year later, still struggling to communicate.
The new episodes aired on Friday 26th June to raise money during Ireland’s comic relief along with other entertainment, the likes of which included Saoirse Ronan becoming an honorary Derry Girl.
The second of the two new episodes was kept under wraps as a surprise to viewers, but saw Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones reprising their roles as the on-again-off-again lovers Connell and Marianne in ‘Normal People Confessions’.
The surprise episode opens to Connell, again struggling to find his words, but this time in a confessional. “I’m in love, Father, but it’s complicated…” he starts.
“Oh, tell me about it!” replies special guest star, Andrew Scott, in his role as Fleabag’s Hot Priest.
The two start to share in their girl troubles just as they’re interrupted by Marianne, who makes it clear that she doesn’t “believe in the concept of sin” but goes on to confess that she has stolen Connell’s beloved chain necklace. This is the very same necklace that has become an internet sensation, amassing 185,000 followers on the Instagram account @connellschain.
Hilarity ensues as, yet again, Connell and Marianne speak over each other, miscommunicate, and never seem to be on the same page as the other.
Mescal posted behind the scenes photos on his Instagram page, showing the three stars all socially distancing, calling Edgar-Jones and Scott “absolute legends” and thanking Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson, director of photography Suzie Lavelle and Emer O’Shea and production company Element Pictures.
The night of laughter and charity raised over five million euros for RTÉ’s Comic Relief, with viewers donating €2,535,850 on the night and the government matching all donations.
Words by Kate Goodyer