Happy Valley returns for the third and final series

Acclaimed crime drama Happy Valley will return for a third and final series in 2022.

The award-winning show follows Sarah Lancashire as police officer Catherine Cawood, facing crime in Yorkshire’s Calderdale district.

James Norton will return to play murderer and sex offender Tommy Lee Royce, with Siobhan Finneran reprising the role of Catherine’s sister.

The second series ended in 2016 with an average audience of 9.3 million.

Spoiler Alert: Some minor plot details from previous series and upcoming episodes below.

Upon returning to the role of Catherine, Lancashire said, “It’s time for the dog to see the rabbit,” while Norton described taking “Tommy for the last time” as “a wonderful and daunting privilege.”

For the third six-part series, Catherine uncovers the remains of a crime victim of a crime underworld in a drained tank. She unleashes a chain of events that again unknowingly brings her directly back to Royce.

The first two series created by Sally Wainwright each won the Bafta TV Awards for Best Drama Series and Best Writing. Lancashire also won a Bafta for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Series Two.

Her character in both series has been seen grappling with intense and brutal storylines centered around cases of rape, multiple murders, drugs, kidnapping and human trafficking.

Norton’s character Royce has often been implicated in such terrible crimes.

Catherine faced this brutality as she tried to navigate a complicated home life, which involved raising her grandson after her mother, who was raped resulting in pregnancy, took her own life.

While Happy Valley’s first and second series garnered more than healthy audiences and rave reviews from critics, there was concern expressed by some on the amount of violence and graphic content. but Wainwright defended such scenes.

carter, who hinted at the return of the series at the Edinburgh TV Festival Earlier this year, he said of the announcement: “It was wonderful to see the lasting impact this series has had on audiences around the world.

“I am thrilled that Sarah, James and Siobhan are back on board for what I hope will be the best season ever.”

Piers Wenger, BBC Drama Director, said: “When Happy Valley first launched on the BBC in 2014, it completely changed the landscape of criminal drama.

“Sally has made a magnificent conclusion that is sure to make this third and final series one of the most anticipated and unmissable moments on television.”

Meanwhile, rumors continue to circulate about a seventh series of another “must-see” detective drama, Line of Duty.

Earlier this month, the creator of the series joked about newspaper stories claiming the show would be back, despite no confirmation from the BBC.

Jed Mercury tweeted: “Tabloids announce new season of fake #LineofDuty clickbaits,” says a TV insider.

Speculation about the show was sparked by its enormous popularity, which led to the BBC’s May finale attracting 15.24 million viewers, making it the UK’s most watched drama series of the 21st century.

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have an email with a suggestion for a story [email protected].