It was a long wait for Happy Valley fans, but the show returned on New Year's Day and didn't disappoint. Viewers have described the first episode as "solid gold".
Another described Sarah Lancashire, who plays Sergeant Catherine Cawood, as the "greatest female character to have graced television", while one urged BAFTA to get award engraved now. After a six-year wait, the multi Bafta-winning series returned to the Calder Valley for a third and final series. Read more about how many episodes there are here.
Once again Catherine and Tommy-Lee Royce, the man she places as responsible for her daughter's suicide, come face to face in series three. Discovering the remains of a gangland murder victim in a drained reservoir in the opening scene has sparked a chain of events that unwittingly leads her straight back to Tommy.
Catherine is desperate for her grandson, Ryan, to have no contact with his father, Tommy, but Ryan has other ideas. Why they waited so long for the final series is explained here. Series three will show how Ryan and Tommy's relationship develops. Elsewhere Catherine is still battling the drug problem that is rife in Calder Valley, where she lives and works, as she nears retirement.
The first series didn't disappoint with fans anticipating the return. One said: "I’m calling it now: Catherine Cawood is the greatest female character to have graced television. Brave, kind, fierce, witty and feminist. Thanks to Sally Wainwright for bringing back Happy Valley."
Elliot Gonzalez said: "SIMPLY STUNNING. Unless it ends badly (which I highly doubt) Happy Valley has to be up there when it comes to best TV lists at the end of this year."
Another said: "Sarah Lancashire is a stunning actress. She’s knocking it out of the park as Catherine Cawood. Feels like she’s never been away. Same goes for the marvellous Siobhan Finneran as her sister Clare."
Jill Towers put it simply: "British TV at its best."
Jane Lavendar said: "Nine minutes in and it’s clear Happy Valley is going to be THE TV event of 2023. Catherine Cawood is an absolute icon."
Angela Hardy said: "I could not adore Sarah Lancashire any more if I tried. Her performance as Cawood in Happy Valley is just something else. Please engrave the BAFTA now. What a script to work with too. Sally Wainwright showing her genius as ever."
Another simply described the episode as "solid gold".
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