Happy Valley series 3: First trailer released for dramatic final season

Virgin Radio

14 Dec 2022, 08:55

Fans now have a better look at Sarah Lancashire’s final turn as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the Happy Valley series three trailer. 

The BBC have just dropped the first full trailer for the final season of the crime drama, which will see Catherine find the remains on a gangland murder victim, which leads her back to violent criminal Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton. 

The intense trailer sees Catherine stumble across the bones of the victim in the West Yorkshire marsh, which leads Inspector Mike Taylor, played by Rick Warden, to tell her: "I've got some intel from the prison – you're not going to like it."

Meanwhile, Catherine is battling to save her relationship with grandson Ryan, portrayed by Rhys Connah, who wants to get to know his imprisoned father. 

Catherine tells him: "Everything I've ever done is in your best interests,” while Ryan responds: "I get it's complicated but he's my dad."

Bloodied and bruised, Catherine confirms she’s been in “several” fights as she struggles to keep Tommy behind bars.

That’s not the only drama happening in Happy Valley, as a local pharmacist gets in over his head when a neighbour is arrested.

Tommy star James joined The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky on Tuesday (13th December) to chat about the third and final series of Happy Valley, and revealed what it was like to play the “fascinating” criminal. 

He told Chris: “Basically all the characters have moved on and a lot has happened in seven years, obviously. For Tommy, his life’s been pretty small. 

“He’s been obsessing about two parts of his life: the son he loves and the woman he hates, and he’s becoming more and more obsessed about those two different binary aims."

On getting back into Tommy’s head, the actor said: “It’s always slightly dark and yet there’s something quite enticing about it, because we all get drawn to the subversive, dark fringes of humanity, and Tommy is fascinating. So, I love it, but do I love him? I mean, I love the experience of making the show. I love the people, Sally [Wainwright, creator] is the best, I think, at drama, at dialogue, Sarah Lancashire is obviously the queen.” 

He added: “Tommy is your distant friend who you despise but you can’t tear yourself away from."

Happy Valley begins 9pm on Sunday 1st January 2023, New Year’s Day, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer