‘Happy Valley’ Renewed For 3rd & Final Season
Sally Wainwright’s multi-BAFTA award-winning, smash-hit BBC drama ‘Happy Valley‘ is set to return for a 3rd and final season the UK broadcaster has announced.
The six-episode third season will see Sarah Lancashire return as Sergeant Catherine Cawood, and will film in 2022 around West Yorkshire. James Norton and Siobhan Finneran will also return, as Catherine’s nemesis, the murderer and sex offender Tommy Lee Royce, and Catherine’s sister, the recovering addict Clare Cartwright, respectively. Further returning cast members and new additions will be announced in due course.
When Catherine discovers the remains of a gangland murder victim in a drained reservoir it sparks a chain of events that unwittingly leads her straight back to Tommy Lee Royce. Her grandson Ryan is now sixteen and still living with Catherine, but he has ideas of his own about what kind of relationship he wants to have with the man Catherine refuses to acknowledge as his father. Still battling the seemingly never-ending problem of drugs in the valley and those who supply them, Catherine is on the cusp of retirement.
“I’m delighted to find myself back in the world of Catherine Cawood and her family and colleagues for the final instalment of the Happy Valley trilogy,” commented Happy Valley creator and writer Sally Wainwright. “It’s been wonderful to see the lasting impact this series has had on audiences all over the world. I’m thrilled that Sarah, James and Siobhan are back on board for what I hope will be the best season yet, and thrilled once again to be working with the wonderful team at Lookout Point, the BBC and our new colleagues at AMC.”
Most recently airing on BBC One in 2016, Happy Valley is adored by viewers and critics alike, with series two attracting an average audience of 9.3 million. The first two series each won the BAFTA Television awards for both Drama Series and Writing: Drama for Sally Wainwright, with Sarah Lancashire winning the BAFTA Television award for Leading Actress for series two. Happy Valley series three will be made by Lookout Point (‘Gentleman Jack’, ‘War & Peace’) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, in co-production with AMC Networks, which will be the exclusive home for series three in the U.S. and Canada. BBC Studios is distributing the series internationally.
“To take on Tommy one final time is a wonderful and daunting privilege, and something I’ve been looking forward to since we wrapped the last series, 6 years ago,” adds James Norton. “I’m so excited to be working with the insanely talented Sally and Sarah again. Thinking we should all go on one last barge holiday, for old times’ sake.”
“We’re thrilled for AMC+ to be the exclusive U.S. home of this highly-rated and enthusiastically reviewed hit series,” commented Kristin Jones, EVP International Programming for AMC Networks. “Sally Wainwright’s riveting police series is the perfect addition to AMC+’s ever-widening library of acclaimed and international dramas and we’re looking forward to catching up with the upcoming adventures of Catherine and the other residents of this intriguing town.”
‘Happy Valley’ series three was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, and is a Lookout Point production for the BBC, co-produced with AMC. Happy Valley is written and created by Sally Wainwright. Series three will be directed by Patrick Harkins and Fergus O’Brien, with Chris Clough as series producer, and Jessica Taylor as producer. Executive producers are Sally Wainwright and Sarah Lancashire, with Faith Penhale and Will Johnston for Lookout Point, and Ben Irving for the BBC. BBC Studios, who wholly own Lookout Point, is distributing series three in addition to series one and two.
“When Happy Valley first launched on the BBC in 2014, it changed the landscape of crime drama completely,” said Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama. “Sally has crafted a magnificent conclusion that is sure to make this third and final series one of television’s most highly anticipated and unmissable moments. Huge thanks go to Sally, Sarah and the Lookout Point team, plus James and Siobhan, for coming together for this special moment, and we’re delighted to welcome AMC on board this final series.”
‘Happy Valley’ Season 3 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and the first two series are available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer now. In the U.S. and Canada, AMC Networks will be the exclusive home for Season 3 which will be available on the AMC+ premium streaming bundle where Seasons 1 and 2 are also now available to binge.
‘Happy Valley‘ Season 3 does not yet have an air date, but If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when they get a UK premiere date.
