Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Entertainment
Simon Duke

Happy Valley's Rhys Connah reveals his mum's huge mistake over role in BBC drama

Happy Valley actor Rhys Connah has admitted his mum was guilt6y of a huge misconception about what kind of show Happy Valley was, after her first landed a role in the BBC drama at just eight-years-old.

Focal to the Happy Valley plot right from series one as Ryan, the grandson of Sarah Lancashire's character Catherine Cawood, the young actor has been involved in some tense scenes since 2014, largely down to him also being the son of the show's villain, Tommy Lee Royce, who raped Catherine's daughter Becky and got her pregnant.

Series three saw Ryan betray Catherine by going to see dad Tommy in prison, before Tommy then made contact with him via a games console after breaking free from court and going on the run. His plan was to escape to Marbella, taking Ryan with him, but after hearing some brutal home truths from Ann Gallagher, the police officer Tommy kidnapped and raped in series one and realising just how much Catherine had done for him, he told her there was 'no way' he'd have gone with him.

READ MORE: Happy Valley's Poppy coat 'mystery' solved off screen as finale leaves fans left wanting answers

Many fans thought the Happy Valley finale would see Ryan end up saving Catherine's life against Tommy but, while that didn't happen, he still played a big part in how the BBC drama concluded.

But, giving his first ever TV interview on Monday's Loose Women,. Rhys revealed that his mum thought he'd joined a very different show, when he was told he'd landed the part of Ryan nine years ago.

It was host Ruth Langsford that prompted the admission, with her asking Rhys: 2With the title, what did your mum think it was going to be about>" as the teenager answered: "She thought it was going to be a family friendly kids show."

As the camera panned to his mum in the studio audience, Rhys elaborated: "Just reading the title 'ah Happy Valley, it's going to be nice.' Yeah, it wasn't nice, it was a very disturbing show!"

READ NEXT:

*BBC's Happy Valley ending divides viewers as death confirmed in final seconds

*How did Happy Valley end? BBC drama wraps with 'last second' death as one text changes everything

*ITV Vera viewers call out drama over 'impossible' Newcastle error in latest episode

*Dancing on Ice result sees Ekin-Su exit after injury blow and telling off camera remark

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.