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Simon Duke

Who plays Ryan in Happy Valley? BBC viewers heap praise on young actor

The Happy Valley finale airs on Sunday night and one character set to play a crucial role in how things pan out is young Ryan Cawood.

Right from series one, the now teenager has been at the forefront of the drama as the grandson of Catherine Cawood and the son of the thorn in her side, villain Tommy Lee Royce, who raped and impregnated Ryan's late mother Becky.

Catherine's constant mission to keep Ryan away from Tommy suffered a blow in series two when a woman who became obsessed with Tommy and went to visit him behind bars, posed as a teaching assistant in a bid to get closer to Ryan, spark his curiosity about his dad and try and drive a wedge between him and Catherine.

And then, as Happy Valley's finale drew closer, Catherine was sent reeling at being betrayed by her own sister Claire who, together with partner Neil, went behind her back to take Ryan to see Tommy in prison. At the end of last weekend's penultimate episode, Tommy having escaped from court and made a successful break for freedom, made contact with Ryan via an online game and asked him to runaway to Marbella with him.

READ MORE: Happy Valley finale 'spoiled' by BBC News as angry viewers complain

The invite came right after Ryan had been given some brutal home truths about just what a monster his dad is from Anne Gallagher, the young woman turned police officer, who was kidnapped and raped by Tommy in series one.

Who plays Ryan in Happy Valley?

Ryan is played by Rhys Connah. Now 16, Rhys was part of the show when he was just eight years old, as Happy Valley made its debut back in 2014.

As well as being in the most watched drama on TV, Rhys has also appeared in mini series The White Princess as Teddy, alongside Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer. He has also appeared in the film The Runaways.

Rhys Connah as Ryan in Happy Valley (BBC)

In the hours that lead up to Happy Valley's final episode going out on BBC, Rhys took to Instagram to post a photo of him in character as Ryan and wrote: "The wait is nearly over… the final ever episode. Anyone got any last minute predictions ??"

His post got plenty of replies, including one from Eamonn Holmes, who wrote: "Yeah , .... not sure I'd like to be in your shoes"

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