Happy Valley: Season three 'will happen' – but there's a catch

Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright has confirmed a third series of the police drama "will happen", but warned fans they might have to be patient.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, the writer said she needed time to work out where the story would go next.

"It will happen but it will be a little while. I have got some good ideas," she said.

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The future of the show was previously in doubt after star Sarah Lancashire appeared to rule out a return.

"It's the end of the story for Happy Valley. I wouldn't want it to go to a third series, I really wouldn't – then it becomes something else," she told the Daily Mail in March. "We set out to tell a story and we told it."

However, a spokesman for the production company later told reporters Lancashire and Wainwright had been "talking" and the actor would be "very keen" to revisit her role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Wainwright suggested viewers might learn more about Tommy Lee Royce, the imprisoned rapist and murderer played by James Norton, in further episodes.

"I suppose in some way I haven't told the story of Tommy Lee Royce," she said.

The last series ended with Cawood's grandson writing to his estranged father Tommy in prison.

"That's a whole can of worms," added Wainwright. "If Tommy wants to cause trouble, he can. So I hope it's left in a place where people will feel satisfied but equally there is more to say."

Happy Valley: can Wainwright and Lancashire pull of a third season?

17 March

Warning: spoilers ahead

A third series of Happy Valley is said to be on the way, following this week's intense season two finale.

However, while saying fans "might" get a third outing, writer Sally Wainwright warned there is likely to be a lengthy wait as she is busy with other projects.

The latest season, which drew in millions of viewers per episode, saw Sarah Lancashire's police sergeant Catherine Cawood identify not one but two murderers.

The serial killer who had been targeting sex workers was revealed to be the local farmer, Daryl Garrs (Robert Emms), in the penultimate episode, but the finale still had several twists and turns, with disgraced detective John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle) eventually throwing himself off a bridge after confessing to killing his mistress.

Cawood also came face to face with prison groupie Frances Drummond (Shirley Henderson), who had been trying to groom the police sergeant's grandson into seeing his murderous father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton).

Lancashire has received high praise for her performance as Cawood, who is described by The Independent's Daisy Wyatt as "one of the most likeable heroines to grace prime-time TV".

It is the actress's "brilliant characterisation" that is responsible for the show's "soaring success", she adds.

Unlike other British crime dramas, such as Broadchurch, there has been no sign of "second series syndrome" for Happy Valley, says Michael Hogan at the Daily Telegraph.

"Ratings remained high and the wider focus, with three major plotlines running in parallel, kept it as compelling as ever," he says.

Some elements of the show have been left open-ended. The "Halifax mafia" Knezovic family, key suspects in the early episodes, appear to have escaped justice this time around and Cawood still seems to have unresolved concerns about whether her grandson will grow up to be like his father.

"All in all, it was just brilliant telly," says Neela Debnath at the Daily Express. "With news that Happy Valley has been renewed for a third run, all we can ask for is: More of the same please, Sally."

Happy Valley: How will 'monstrously good' series end?

Warning: spoilers for episode five

Crime drama Happy Valley reaches its dramatic conclusion tonight on BBC1 after keeping millions of viewers on the edge of their seats. Tense, grim and gripping, it has been a hit - but just what is it that keeps fans coming back for more? And what can they expect from the nail-biting conclusion?

Writing for The Guardian from the US, Emma Brockes calls the show "monstrously good" and "the best thing on TV on either side of the Atlantic".

Created by Sally Wainwright, Happy Valley has "a lot of great writing" and a superlative cast led by Sarah Lancashire, who is "inching into Dame Judi territory" as a troubled, world-weary but resilient cop, says Brockes. It is popular in the US because "it is a window into another world, she adds, just as British viewers felt transported while watching The Wire".

The first series saw police sergeant Catherine Cawood (Lancashire) coming to terms with the suicide of her daughter, Rebecca, after she was raped by Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) and gave birth to his son, Ryan (Rhys Connah).

Determined to bring Tommy to justice, Catherine tracked him down – only for him to kidnap Ryan and threaten to kill him. The determined police sergeant stopped him and now Tommy blames her for putting him in jail and for keeping him away from his son.

Series two has seen Catherine implicated in the murder of Tommy's mother, but suspicion moved away from her as a series of other murders came to light. While one of the deaths can be attributed to cop-gone-wrong John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle), four other murders remain unsolved by the detectives.

Last week, farm labourer Daryl Garrs (Robert Emms) walked into his mother's bedroom and confessed – but did he really do it?

The gripping penultimate episode had viewers "in a state of shock following the most brutal TV ending ever", says Danny Walker in the Daily Mirror. "There is a lot to tie up in episode six," he adds.

The finale trailer has teased an "explosive" ending that will see Catherine confront Tommy's delusional girlfriend Frances Drummond (Shirley Henderson) while troubled Detective Sergeant Wadsworth resort to desperate measures, says Walker.

The question remains whether Tommy will get his revenge. He believes the world is a terrible place and wants to take his son away from it.

Nevertheless, there could be a positive note in the story featuring community support officer Ann Gallagher (Charlie Murphy), suggests Alison Maloney in The Sun.

Ann, who was also raped by Tommy in the first series, confided in Catherine's son Daniel (Karl Davies) last week.

Sympathetic Daniel and Ann "definitely shared a moment", says Maloney.

"A happy ending in Happy Valley?" she wonders. "Maybe."

Happy Valley concludes tonight at 9pm on BBC1.

Happy Valley season two: who killed Tommy Lee Royce's mother?

17 February

Happy Valley has turned from a police drama into a whodunit mystery, with its central character, police sergeant Catherine Cawood, lingering on the list of murder suspects.

In the first series, the villain - Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) - was identified from the outset. This time around, however, viewers have been left to play the guessing game.

Royce's mother has been brutally killed and mutilated in a murder that could be linked to the deaths of several prostitutes. And there are a handful of new characters acting suspiciously…

Sean Balmforth (Matthew Lewis)

Lewis is best known for his role as the valiant Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films but here, he has been spotted drinking vodka at the wheel while kerb-crawling. Balmforth also seems to have a soft spot for his boss's late wife, along with a murky past.

Frances Drummond (Shirley Henderson)

Adept at playing off-the-wall characters, Henderson cuts another oddball here, playing a mysterious woman in love with Royce. She is crazy enough to pretend to be a teaching assistant to get to his son. Is she capable of murder?

The Halifax mafia

Viewers are yet to become acquainted with the Knezovic family – known as the "Halifax mafia" to the police - but they are already taking shape as the baddies of series two. In last night's episode, they were accused of human trafficking and possibly the murder of a sex worker – but viewers don't know if Royce's mother's is on the list, too.

Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire)

Happy Valley's indefatigable sergeant has been a television hero ever since she talked a drunk out of setting fire to himself in the very first episode. Since then, she has fended off abuse and violence and kept viewers laughing in between – but now she is facing a new challenge: eliminating her name from the list of suspected murderers. Fans refuse to believe she could be involved, but she is struggling to come up with a suitable alibi and in her own words: "I found the body. I left threatening messages. I had a motive."

Happy Valley: can series two of police drama outshine first?

10 February

Happy Valley's new season has premiered on BBC One and while some worried it might suffer a second series slump, the critics say it's just as gripping as the last.

The debut season, written by Sally Wainwright, saw damaged but determined West Yorkshire Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) on the hunt for the man responsible for her daughter's suicide, rapist Tommy Lee Royce (War and Peace's James Norton), who is involved in another kidnapping. The new series sees Royce behind bars and Cawood on duty, this time investigating a series of animal killings when she comes across a human body, which leads her back to Royce.

Fans won't be let down, say critics.

"Comeback series of acclaimed crime dramas have tended to disappoint recently," says Michael Hogan in the Daily Telegraph. There was ITV's Broadchurch and HBO's True Detective, which "both suffered disastrous cases of second series syndrome". And while Hogan wondered whether Happy Valley would fall victim to the same drop-off in quality, "on the evidence of this superlative opener, absolutely not".

The plot is already "full of suspense and possibilities and the performances were uniformly excellent", he continues. Serial murders, sexual mutilation, blackmail, prostitution, spiked drinks, poisoned dogs and a dying sheep smashed in the skull with a rock - "Welcome back to Happy Valley."

Yes, second series, like second albums, are supposedly hard to pull off, says Andrew Billen in The Times. "But yesterday's episode was better than its equivalent in 2014."

While there were several freaky moments and it was all very disturbing, he adds, this was "a very strong, very well-plotted return and, as Catherine, Sarah Lancashire was terrific".

"This is fabulous drama," agrees Sam Wollaston in The Guardian. "It is refreshing and lovely to have people on television talking like people not on television."

Catherine's dialogue with her sister, Clare (Benidorm's Siobhan Finneran), in which as much is said by what they don't say, makes you "totally believe that here are two people who have known each other their entire lives", he notes. However, just because it's believable and human doesn't mean it's boring: "There is still plenty going on: misery, splitting up, plus a cracking cop show, and even a few good laughs."

Wainwright's writing "continues to leap nimbly from comic to grave", says Louisa Mellor on Den of Geek, who notes that Sgt Cawood, in the 18 months since she put away Royce, has received a medal from the Queen and a new pair of shades. But "thankfully that's all that's changed about her".

Mellor says Lancashire's deadpan delivery remains "absurdly entertaining" in this busy first episode, with "satisfyingly little dead time".

"Welcome back, our Catherine," she adds. "You've been missed."

Happy Valley series two begins with a gory discovery

08 February

Bafta-winning police drama Happy Valley returns to BBC One tomorrow – and looks set to begin with a gory first episode.

Sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, was last seen hunting down her late daughter's rapist, War and Peace star James Norton, while simultaneously resolving a brutal kidnapping.

The first series drew nearly eight million viewers, praise from critics and two Baftas, as well as a few complaints about its depiction of violence.

The second season is clearly not shying away from harrowing content, opening with Cawood bludgeoning a dying sheep to death with a rock. A sheep-rustling plot leads to an unexpected discovery for the tireless sergeant, who opens up a garage to find a decomposing body covered in maggots.

In one trailer, she can be heard saying: "I found the body. I left threatening messages. I had a motive," suggesting she might find herself implicated in a murder.

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Norton's character Tommy Lee Royce looks set to make a comeback: head shaven, he is seen in the trailers, with a voiceover from Cawood saying: "It will never go away."

There are also new faces, including Uncle star Con O'Neill and Shirley Henderson, of Harry Potter fame, who plays the Royce-obsessed Frances Drummond.

MoviePilot predicts it will be the "television highlight of the year", while the Daily Telegraph says it looks "just as brilliant as the first".

All the key personnel – Lancashire, Norton and writer Sally Wainwright – are present and correct, and the opener is "pacy, blackly comic and packed with surprise plot developments", adds the newspaper. "Hopes are very high."