‘Clare will die’
I believe Clare will be the character who dies at the hands of Tommy Lee Royce. The blow-up between her and Catherine left a void, and Clare may feel compelled to sacrifice herself to save Ryan. I believe Royce will be captured or be killed by armed police shortly thereafter. I can see an end at a funeral: Catherine and Ryan stand in the rain before Clare’s grave. In the silence, as tears streak down Catherine’s cheek, Ryan takes her hand and they walk away. Christian DeFeo, Norfolk
‘I want Catherine and Ryan walking off into the sunset’
Mine is not a theory, it’s a hope. Ryan has sussed out the psychopath that his dad is. He will lay a trap so that grandma Catherine can catch Tommy. I want Catherine and Ryan walking off into the sunset, please. Clare and Catherine will sort of make up in that Yorkshire way they have. The evil pharmacist will kill himself – inject himself with air. Evil PE teacher will, unfortunately, get away with his abuse, but Ryan has a hold on him, so the future is uncertain for the evil teacher. Howzat? Monica Kendall, North Wales
‘I think Tommy is not actually Ryan’s Dad’
I think we’ll find out that Tommy is not actually Ryan’s Dad. I think Becky had an affair with the teacher Rob Hepworth and got pregnant, but pretended it was Tommy’s. Tommy would have known about the affair. As Catherine said, “there are details people don’t know”. Rob has both targeted Ryan for his behaviour and also offered to be a listening ear, somewhat out of the blue. So he’s obviously interested in the boy and has form for going out with his students.
Tommy finds out Ryan isn’t his so Ryan no longer has value, in his narcissistic mind. It leaves the option of dispatching Ryan, with Catherine and Clare caught in the crossfire. As for Neil? The audience haven’t been encouraged to warm to him. So he’s either a wrong ‘un (Tommy’s dad?) or will be sacrificed by the writer to save Ryan. Please, Sally Wainwright, don’t kill off Catherine, Clare or Ryan! Winter is hard enough for us all. Bee, London
‘A UFO beams Tommy up’
Ryan will convince Tommy Lee Royce he wants to go with him to Marbella and the two will meet up alone. At the meeting, Ryan will try to convince Tommy to do the right thing and turn himself in, saying he would be proud of his dad if he does so. Tommy flies into a rage at his perceived weakness of Ryan and decides to abduct him. However, the abductor becomes the abductee when a UFO beams Tommy up into the sky and flies away. With the help of the alien liaison officer, Catherine confirms that Tommy will not be returning to Earth. “Now the Valley can truly be Happy,” Catherine says, and Jake Bugg plays us out. Matthew, London
‘Ryan will be left an orphan’
I think both Catherine and her nemesis will have to die. I can’t see Catherine retiring happily and taking off in her van; within 20 miles she would be involved in trying to right some injustice, and getting herself into trouble. (Having said that, what an interesting sequel that would be!). Tommy Lee Royce needs to die for all of us to feel safe in our beds. Can anyone see him wanting to repent and do better? Ryan has become very clued up about Tommy and I think is now trying to lead him into a trap rather than get closer to him. He will have to live with his uncle when he’s left an orphan. I don’t think Clare would cope and his grandfather is weak. So no happy endings, but what a compelling watch it’s been. Carole Naylor, Cambridgeshire
‘Ryan wants to avenge his mother and grandmother’
I am convinced Ryan will be lured to meet Tommy, but instead of allowing Tommy to take him to Spain, he will pull out a knife and stab him during a fatherly embrace. Ryan wants to avenge his mother and grandmother. Catherine will discover him just after the act and will convince him to say it was done in self defence. Ryan will not be charged. They will both head off to Nepal in the Land Rover. The pharmacist will be executed by Darius’ mob shortly before he (Darius) is elected to the council. The PE teacher will carry on regardless. As will Clare and hubby Neil. Gillian Homeri, New Brighton
‘Is it possible that Tommy sacrifices himself?’
Is it possible Ryan will be placed in mortal danger, presumably by Darius, and Tommy Lee has to choose between escape and his son’s life? Is it further possible that he sacrifices himself, thus showing he has learned to love (“No greater love hath a man ... ” etc, in keeping with the earlier Jesus imagery) and totally destroying Catherine and her perceptions of him in the process? Mark Howells, Manchester
‘The Kneževićs will murder Tommy’
The baddies – the Kneževićs – will murder Tommy. They can’t dissuade him from his determination to kill Catherine, and the last thing they want is to have the entire county’s police force investigating their part in her death. Catherine will head off to the Himalayas with Alison: intelligent, good company and an excellent mechanic. Just what you need with a ropey old Jeep. Geraldine Blake, Worthing
