‘Grantchester’ and ‘Downton’ stars returning for third season of ‘Happy Valley’
The long-awaited third season of Happy Valley is finally happening!
The BBC’s acclaimed crime drama series launched in 2014, returning for a second season in 2016.
Season 2’s finale was watched by nearly 10 million viewers in the UK when it aired.
Filming is set to begin on six brand new episodes in early 2022 in and around West Yorkshire, England.
Sally Wainwright, who also created Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack, has once again written all the scripts.
Season 2 is being described by the BBC as “final chapter of the Happy Valley story.”
Sarah Lancashire will be back as Sergeant Catherine Cawood.
She’ll be joined by James Norton (Grantchester) as Catherine’s nemesis; the murderer and sex-offender Tommy Lee Royce.
Norton commented: “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. 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.”
Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey) is also reprising her role as Catherine’s sister, recovering addict Clare Cartwright.
The official synopsis reads: “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.”
Season 3 will air in 2022 on BBC One in the UK and on AMC+ in the US.
Gentleman Jack is set to return with a second season this winter, and there are rumours that Last Tango in Halifax could also come back for another season.
Meanwhile, writer Sally Wainwright also has an exciting new period drama series for Disney+ coming up.
The first two seasons of Happy Valley are available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.