Series synopsis
Happy Valley is a British crime drama mystery television series that premiered on BBC One on April 29, 2014. It ended on February 5, 2023. It was created by Sally Wainwright. It stars Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, James Norton and Rhys Connah.
Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild.
Premise
Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Sarah Lancashire as Catherine Cawood
- Siobhan Finneran as Clare Cartwright
- James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce
- Rhys Connah as Ryan Cawood
- Charlie Murphy as Ann Gallagher
- Karl Davies as Daniel Cawood
- Shane Zaza as Shafiq Shah
- Joe Armstrong as Ashley Cowgill
Supporting cast
- George Costigan as Nevison Gallagher
- Steve Pemberton as Kevin Weatherill
- Jill Baker as Helen Gallagher
- Adam Long as Lewis Whippey
- Derek Riddell as Richard Cawood
- Matthew Lewis as Sean Balmforth
- Kevin Doyle as DS John Wadsworth
- Julie Hesmondhalgh as Amanda Wadsworth
- Shirley Henderson as Frances Drummond
- Vincent Franklin as DSU Andy Shepherd
- Mollie Winnard as Joanna Hepworth
- Mark Stanley as Rob Hepworth
Guest cast
- Rick Warden as Insp Mike Taylor
- Moey Hassan as Newsagent
- Pauline Jefferson as Old Lady
- Ben Wright as Youth 1
- Phil Featherstone as Youth 2
- James Burrows as Liam Hughes
- Hannah John-Kamen as Justine
- Gerard Fletcher as Solicitor
- Ramon Tikaram as Praveen Badal
- Hebe Beardsall as Leonie
- Lena Kaur as Bryony
- Louise Atkins as Steph
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 20 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | February 2, 2016 | September 11, 2024 |
| Season 1 | 6 | April 29, 2014 | June 3, 2014 |
| Season 2 | 6 | February 9, 2016 | March 15, 2016 |
| Season 3 | 6 | January 1, 2023 | February 5, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Story so Far | February 2, 2016 |
| 2 |
Sally Wainwright Remembers... Happy Valley Writer Sally Wainwright looks back on the origins of her Bafta-winning drama Happy Valley, which first appeared on the nation’s TV screens in 2014. She reveals just how happy the early days really were - sharing the inside story of how the show first came together, the challenges faced, and the pressures of living up to expectations once the series established itself as an acclaimed success. |
September 11, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Sergeant Cawood's world stops when the man who drove her daughter to suicide is released from prison, and Kevin's split-second decision devastates Nevison. |
April 29, 2014 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Catherine's search for Tommy gains momentum when she receives a tip-off regarding his whereabouts. Helen absorbs the shock of hearing that Ann has been abducted. |
May 6, 2014 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Tommy brutally takes control of a situation when PC Kirsten McAskill pulls him and Lewis over. His actions have devastating consequences. |
May 13, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Even behind bars, Tommy finds a way to keep an eye over Ryan. |
February 9, 2016 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Catherine arrives home with Ilinka, an emaciated Croatian woman who has been rescued after being trafficked and enslaved for the past four years. Meanwhile, John's panic over Vicky's threat spills out into his home life. |
February 16, 2016 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Tommy urges Frances to go further with her attempts at making Catherine's life a misery. |
February 23, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 When Catherine discovers the remains of a murder victim, it bizarrely leads her straight back to Tommy Lee Royce. |
January 1, 2023 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Catherine learns of a painful betrayal close to home, and Faisal comes under increasing pressure from all sides. |
January 8, 2023 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Catherine confronts Clare and presents Ryan with an ultimatum. Faisal and Joanna hatch a plan that takes an unexpected turn. |
January 15, 2023 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 29, 2014 |
| Last aired | February 5, 2023 |
| Runtime | 59 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:00:00 |