Happy Valley (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | April 29, 2014 |
| Founder | Sally Wainwright |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Crime drama television series |
Happy Valley is a British crime drama television series both set and filmed in the Calder Valley, located in West Yorkshire. The show features performances by Sarah Lancashire, James Norton, and Siobhan Finneran. It was developed and scripted by Sally Wainwright, who also took on directing duties alongside Euros Lyn and Tim Fywell. The inaugural series debuted on BBC One on 29 April 2014, followed by the second series on 9 February 2016, with the third and concluding series airing on 1 January 2023. The show earned the 2015 BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series and garnered a subsequent BAFTA for Best Drama with its second installment.
Series 1
Set in Halifax, the story follows Catherine Cawood, a divorced police sergeant and grandmother, who is grappling with the aftermath of her daughter's suicide eight years prior. She is raising her grandson Ryan, who was conceived after her daughter was assaulted by Tommy Lee Royce. Catherine's routine is thrown into turmoil when Tommy, held responsible by her for her daughter's demise, is released from prison. Unaware of his ongoing criminal activities, she becomes obsessed with confronting him while he secretly schemes to abduct Anne Gallagher, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, for a ransom.
Series 2
Eighteen months onward, Catherine has resumed her police duties and has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) for rescuing Anne Gallagher from Royce, now serving a life sentence. Following the murder of Royce’s mother, Catherine faces accusations of homicide and delves into an investigation involving a human trafficking operation connected to serial killings. Senior officers Detective Superintendent Andy Shepard and Detective Inspector Jodie Shackleton suspect that the alleged fourth victim was actually killed by another individual—police detective John Wadsworth—who is being blackmailed by the victim Victoria Fleming. Meanwhile, Ryan forms a friendship with Miss Drummond, a teaching assistant secretly enamored with Royce; he manipulates her to attempt contact with Ryan against court restrictions, causing strain within Catherine’s family.
Series 3
Six years later, as retirement approaches for Catherine, she investigates human remains tied to suspects associated with Royce, who is incarcerated in Sheffield awaiting trial on multiple charges. Ryan, now aged 16, has been covertly visiting his father with assistance from Catherine’s sister Clare and Clare’s partner Neil. Upon learning this, Catherine limits their interactions and cautions Ryan to cease these visits. At school, Ryan encounters difficulties when his PE teacher Rob Hepworth removes him from the football squad amid allegations of misconduct. At home, Hepworth abuses his wife Joanna (Mollie Winnard), who battles prescription drug dependency fueled by illegal supplies from pharmacist Faisal Bhatti. Faisal himself is under duress from violent drug dealers demanding protection payments.
Cast
- Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood
- Siobhan Finneran as Clare Cartwright
- Charlie Murphy as Ann Gallagher
- James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce
- George Costigan as Nevison Gallagher
- Rhys Connah as Ryan Cawood
Series 1
- Steve Pemberton portraying Kevin Weatherill
- Joe Armstrong in the role of Ashley Cowgill
- Sophie Rundle as PC Kirsten McAskill
Series 2
- Kevin Doyle playing John Wadsworth
- Amelia Bullmore as Vicky Fleming
- Julie Hesmondhalgh in the role of Amanda Wadsworth
- Katherine Kelly portraying Jodie Shackleton
- Vincent Franklin as Andy Shephard
- Susan Lynch cast as Alison Garrs
- Con O'Neill in the role of Neil Ackroyd
- Shirley Henderson portraying Frances Drummond
- Matthew Lewis as Sean Balmforth
- Rick Warden playing Mike Taylor
Recurring
- Ishia Bennison as Joyce Metcalf
- Derek Riddell portraying Richard Cawood
- Sophie Rundle reprising Kirsten McAskill
- Ramon Tikaram as Praveen Badal
Production
On 22 November 2012, the commissioning of Happy Valley for BBC One was announced by Ben Stephenson. The series was penned by Sally Wainwright, with production led by Karen Lewis, and direction shared among Euros Lyn, Wainwright herself, and Tim Fywell.
Filming commenced in November 2013 across the Calder Valley, utilizing locations such as Todmorden, Luddenden, Mytholmroyd, Bradford, Keighley, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge, and Heptonstall. Additional shooting took place at North Light Film Studios in Huddersfield. The title "Happy Valley" originates from a term used by local police to describe the area’s struggles with drug-related issues.
The second series was greenlit on 18 August 2014; production began in August 2015 with the premiere episode broadcast on 9 February 2016. Sally Wainwright continued as writer, Karen Lewis remained producer, and direction was handled by Euros Lyn alongside Wainwright. Notable filming sites included a former police station in Sowerby Bridge and Hebden Bridge for scenes depicting Catherine’s workplace and residence. Prison sequences were filmed at Oakham Enterprise Park in Rutland.
Sergeant Cawood, the central character, is mentioned within the fifth season of Last Tango in Halifax, another production by Wainwright featuring Sarah Lancashire.
In October 2020, Wainwright revealed that development had started on a third series. Filming began in January 2022. Dissatisfied with initial directorial decisions by Patrick Harkins, Wainwright reshot certain scenes after reviewing early episodes and consequently received director credit for those portions.
Reception
The debut episode aired on 29 April 2014 at 21:00, drawing an audience of 8.64 million viewers and ranking as BBC One’s second most-watched program that week. The BBC reported an average consolidated viewership of 8.21 million across six episodes alongside 8.1 million requests via BBC iPlayer. According to Radio Times, Happy Valley became a "word-of-mouth success" that extended beyond its usual demographic.
Following its premiere, Ofcom recorded four complaints concerning "violence and dangerous behaviour," yet no further measures were taken.
Critically, the series maintains a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, seasons one through three earned scores of 83, 84, and 93 respectively. Some critiques focused on the explicit content found in mid-season one episodes and the recurring portrayal of male characters as either vulnerable or criminally inclined.
Creator and writer Sally Wainwright defended the series as "a quality, well-crafted drama," highlighting that depictions of violence were handled responsibly to reflect its psychological and physical effects on protagonist Catherine.
Critical acclaim included Vicky Frost of The Guardian, who praised both the writing and Sarah Lancashire’s performance as "unmissable." Gerard O'Donovan from The Telegraph described it as "complex, thrilling and brilliantly scripted and performed," ranking it among the top television offerings of 2014. In 2019, The Guardian placed it eleventh in their list of the century’s best TV shows, noting its authentic approach compared to conventional police dramas.
The final episode of series three garnered widespread praise. Lucy Mangan from The Guardian characterized it as "[b]rutal, tender, funny, compelling and heartbreaking." Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph awarded a full five-star rating, commending its focus on familial love amid dark themes. Peter Stanford’s review in the Telegraph emphasized religious symbolism present throughout. Additional positive evaluations appeared in The Times and I, both granting five stars.
Following the finale, Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper committed to increasing community policing by 13,000 officers, citing Catherine Cawood’s character as an inspirational figure for law enforcement professionals.
International
| Nation | Broadcasting Platform |
|---|---|
| Australia | Stan, Binge, BBC First |
| Canada | CBC Gem (seasons 1–2), Acorn TV/AMC+ (season 3) |
| Croatia | HRT2 |
| Czech Republic | ČT1 |
| Denmark | DR |
| Estonia | ETV |
| Finland | Yle TV1 |
| France | Canal+ |
| Germany | WDR |
| Greece | Cosmote Series |
| Iceland | RUV |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Netherlands | Netflix, BBC First |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Norway | NRK |
| Poland | Ale Kino+ |
| Portugal | RTP1, RTP2 |
| Sweden | SVT1 |
| Spain | Movistar+ |
| Belgium | Netflix |
| India | Netflix |
| Italy | Sky Investigation |
| Korea | Netflix |
| United States | Netflix (seasons 1–2), Acorn TV/AMC+/BBC America (season 3) |
Season One
Best Leading Actor || Steve Pemberton || Template:Nom Best Leading Actress|| Sarah Lancashire||Template:Nom Best Supporting Actor|| James Norton||Template:Won Best Actress in a Drama Series|| Sarah Lancashire||Template:Won Best Drama Series|| Happy Valley||Template:Nom Best Writer: Drama|| Sally Wainwright||Template:Nom Best Editing: Drama|| Jamie Pearson||Template:Nom Best Performance in a Single Drama or Drama Series (Male)|| Steve Pemberton||Template:Nom Best Performance in a Single Drama or Drama Series (Female)|| Sarah Lancashire||Template:Won Best Script Writer|| Sally Wainwright||Template:Nom Best Production (Craft)||Red Production Company ||Template:Nom Best Post-Production (Craft)|| 'production team' ("Episode 4")||Template:Nom Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television|| Sarah Lancashire||Template:Nom| Organization | Award Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAFTA Television Awards | Best Actress | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor | James Norton | Template:Nominated | |
| Best Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Won | |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Director: Fiction | Euros Lyn | Template:Nom |
| Best Writer: Drama | Sally Wainwright | Template:Won | |
| Banff Rockie Awards | Best Procedural Drama | Happy Valley | Template:Pending |
| Broadcast Awards | Best Drama Series or Serial | Happy Valley | Template:Won |
| Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Actress | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Nom |
| Best Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Nom | |
| Breakthrough Award | James Norton | Template:Nom | |
| Writer's Award | Sally Wainwright | Template:Won | |
| Sarah Lancashire | Template:Won |
Series Two
| Awarding Body | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAFTA Television Awards | Best Actress | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Won |
| Best Supporting Actress | Siobhan Finneran | Template:Nom | |
| Best Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Won | |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Writer: Drama | Sally Wainwright | Template:Won |
| Broadcast Awards | Best Drama Series or Serial | Happy Valley | Template:Nom |
| Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Actress | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Nom |
| Best Actor | James Norton | Template:Nom | |
| Writer's Award | Sally Wainwright | Template:Nom | |
| Irish Film & Television Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Charlie Murphy | Template:Won |
| National Television Awards | Best Drama | Happy Valley | Template:Nom |
| Best Drama Performance | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Won | |
| Peabody Awards | Excellence in Entertainment Television | Happy Valley | Template:Won |
| RTS Programme Awards | Best Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Won |
| Best Writer: Drama | Sally Wainwright | Template:Won | |
| RTS North-West Awards | Best Single Drama or Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Nom |
| Best Performance in a Single Drama or Drama Series (Male) | Kevin Doyle | Template:Won | |
| Best Performance in a Single Drama or Drama Series (Female) | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Won | |
| Best Script Writer | Sally Wainwright | Template:Nom | |
| Best Production (Craft) | Red Production Company | Template:Won | |
| Best Post-Production (Craft) | Production team ("Episode 4") | Template:Nom | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Series, Drama/Genre | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Nom |
| South Bank Sky Arts Awards | Best TV Drama | Happy Valley | Template:Won |
| TV Choice Awards | Best Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Nom |
| Best Actress | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Won |
Series Three
| Awarding Organization | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAFTA Television Awards | Best Actress | Sarah Lancashire | Template:Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Amit Shah | Template:Nom | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Siobhan Finneran | Template:Nom | |
| Best Drama Series | Happy Valley | Template:Nom | |
| Memorable Moment | "Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce's final kitchen showdown" | Template:Won | |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Writer: Drama | Sally Wainwright | Template:Nom |
| Best Editing: Fiction | Joe Carey | Template:Nom |
Home media
The first season of Happy Valley was made available on DVD by BBC Shop in regions 2 and 4 on 16 June 2014, encompassing a total runtime of 351 minutes and carrying a 15 age rating. Additionally, all six episodes could be purchased in both standard and high-definition formats via iTunes.
On 20 August 2014, the initial series premiered as a "Netflix Original" on Netflix in the US and Canada, remaining accessible until its removal in March 2020. The show later appeared on Netflix UK in 2016 and was rebroadcast on the channel W. The second season followed on Netflix UK in 2017.
The first two seasons became available on AMC+ in the US and Canada starting 26 October 2021, coinciding with AMC+'s announcement of co-producing the third season alongside BBC One. On 23 March 2023, AMC Networks revealed that the third series would debut on 22 May 2023 across AMC+, Acorn TV, and BBC America. On that same day, Acorn TV added the first season to its lineup, with the second season scheduled to launch there on 3 April.
External links
- Happy Valley scripts at BBC TV Drama archive
- Articles with short description
- 2014 British television series debuts
- 2023 British television series endings
- 2010s British crime drama television series
- 2010s British police procedural television series
- 2010s British workplace drama television series
- 2020s British crime drama television series
- 2020s British police procedural television series
- 2020s British workplace drama television series
- Television series by Red Production Company
- BAFTA winners (television series)
- BBC crime drama television shows
- Edgar Award–winning works
- British English-language television shows
- Peabody Award–winning television programs
- Television series created by Sally Wainwright
- Television shows set in West Yorkshire
- Television shows shot in Yorkshire
- Television shows set in Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Television series by BBC Studios
- AMC (TV channel) television dramas