With the Happy Valley final just around the corner, viewers have been preparing to say goodbye to Catherine Cawood and co. The BBC series has captivated viewers since 2014 with its edge-of-the-seat suspense and drama.
Happy Valley is the brainchild of writer Sally Wainwright, who is also responsible for shows such as Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack. The series tells the story of strong-willed police sergeant Catherine Cawood, who lost her teenage daughter to suicide. The character lays the blame at the door of villain Tommy Lee Royce, whom her daughter had a child with.
The series' strong scripts are brought to life by an all-star cast that is led by former Coronation Street actress Sarah Lancashire. But once they’ve all said goodbye to the BAFTA award-winning show, which ends on Sunday, February 5, what will they be doing next? Here’s everything you need to know.
Read more: BBC Happy Valley: Five clues we spotted in the final episode trailer as to how it might end
Sarah Lancashire (Catherine Cawood)
Following her role in Happy Valley, lead star Sarah Lancashire has received widespread praise. Some are even calling for her to get a damehood from King Charles III - Read more about that here.
Lancashire will next work on the second series of HBO Max drama, Julia, in which she plays the title character. The series tells the real life story of American TV chef Julia Child. Pirates of the Caribbean actor Tom Hollander also stars.
James Norton (Tommy Lee Royce)
The role of Tommy in Happy Valley is somewhat of an enigma for actor James Norton, who generally plays ‘hero’ characters (see Grantchester, War & Peace etc.) After wowing audiences over the years, he is now a rumoured contender for the next James Bond.
While his licence to kill has yet to be earnt, Norton has two, confirmed upcoming projects according to IMDB. He'll star in drama Men of Divorce and also, an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness opposite Rosanna Arquette. He is also set to feature in Bob Marley biopic, The Sun is Shining, where he will play Island Records boss Chris Blackwell, who helped make the musician a huge star.
Siobhan Finneran (Clare Cartwright)
Prior to playing Catherine’s mild-mannered sister Clare in Happy Valley, Siobhan Finneran was probably best known for her role in ITV comedy series, Benidorm. The Lancashire-born actress has also had roles in the likes of Downton Abbey, Cold Feet and Doctor Who.
Finneran is set to return in the second series of BBC Three’s Alma’s Not Normal. She'll also star in the short film, Rapture.
Charlie Murphy (Ann Gallagher)
In the fifth episode of the final series of Happy Valley, writer Sally Wainwright gave Charlie Murphy’s Ann Gallagher some dramatic material to work with. Read more about *that* divisive scene here.
The powerful scene, which was between Ann and Ryan (Rhys Connagh), proved what a phenomenal actress Murphy is. She will next appear in the mini-series, Damage, opposite actor Nish Shah.
Derek Riddell (Richard Cawood)
Aside from a recurring role in Happy Valley, you may recognise Richard Cawood actor Derek Riddell for performances in The Missing, Gentleman Jack or even Industry (which is shot in Wales).
According to his IMDB profile, Riddell will next star in detective drama Bodies opposite a whole host of other Scottish actors. He will also play a role in another detective drama, Payback, which also stars Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s Peter Mullan.
Con O’Neill (Neil Ackroyd)
A character that has truly divided viewers, Con O’Neill stars as Neil Ackroyd in Happy Valley. He joined the show in series 2 as Clare’s boyfriend, who used to be an alcoholic.
Actor O’Neill has had many roles in TV and film including The Batman (2022), Chernoble and as an extra in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. He will next star opposite Academy Award-winning actor Mark Rylance in short film, The Way of the Wind. He also has a role in new Russell T Davies drama, Nolly, which also stars Helena Bonham Carter.
Amit Shah (Faisal Bhatti)
Prior to his appearance as 'accidental' villain Faisal Bhatti in Happy Valley's third series, Amit Shah has been in countless TV shows and films. Viewers will, no doubt, recognise him for guest performances in Black Mirror, Doctor Who, His Dark Materials and Death in Paradise.
According to the actor's IMDB profile, he has three upcoming roles and all of which are films. He'll star in adventure film The Isle Tide Hotel, thriller 7 Keys and Pain Hustlers opposite Emily Blunt.
Rhys Connah (Ryan Cawood)
Although Ryan Cawood actor Rhys Connah hasn't got any upcoming roles according to his acting CV, we've no doubt that he'll be snapped up quickly following his performance in Happy Valley. One scene in particular won over audiences this series - read more about that here.
Happy Valley concludes at 9pm on Sunday, February 5 on BBC One. All episodes so far are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. For more TV and showbiz stories, subscribe to our newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
