Happy Valley

BBC One’s Happy Valley to return for a third and final series

(credit: BBC)

After a five-year hiatus, Wainwright has written six new episodes of the West Yorkshire set police drama, with Sarah Lancashire returning to her iconic role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood.

James Norton (McMafia) will reprise his role as Tommy Lee Royce, the murderer and sex-offender who assaulted Catherine’s daughter. Siobhan Finneran (Alma’s Not Normal) will also return as Catherine’s sister, the recovering addict Clare Cartwright.

Sally Wainwright discusses Gentleman Jack series two and life in lockdown at the first RTS lunchtime event

Sally Wainwright

She is now penning the second series of the hit BBC drama, which is based on the diaries of a 19th century landowner exploring her lesbian sexuality.

Progress, however, has been slow. “I’ve got tons of work to do, but I’ve found it very hard to concentrate,” admitted Wainwright. She has turned out one episode during eight weeks of lockdown, a slower pace of writing than usual.

Normally, she said, “I take my deadlines very seriously”, but the coronavirus outbreak has put back filming of the new series from June to September.

Memorable TV performances of the decade

(credit: BBC/Luke Varley/Two Brothers/AMC/ITV)

Series binging over weekly releases has become the new norm, and brand new, high-quality TV content seems to be in endless supply.

The competition for viewers’ attention has intensified tenfold, and the leading broadcasters have risen to the challenge.

At the beginning of a new decade, we look back at some of the most memorable performances and series of the last ten years.

 

Loud and proud: Gentlemen Jack creators celebrate the drama's success

O’Hooley & Tidow , Anne Choma, Sally Wainwright and Dr Finn Mackay (Credit: Dee Robertson)

Gentleman Jack wowed critics and audiences alike when it aired on BBC One earlier this year. This was a Sunday-night period drama with a difference – based on the diaries of early 19th-century landowner, industrialist and traveller Anne Lister, it revealed a woman determined to explore her lesbian sexuality.

Happy Valley's Siobhan Finneran joins the cast of Cold Feet

Finneran plays Cheshire housewife Nikki Kirkbright, who develops a close bond with David Marsden (Robert Bathhurst) through his job in personal finance.

Despite her luxurious lifestyle, there is more than meets the eye as it becomes apparent that Nikki's husband George (Robert Glenister) is not the man he seems. 

When secrets are revealed, will David be able to help Nikki escape, or will he get tangled up in the situation?

RTS winners unite for new Channel 4 crime drama Kiri

Sarah Lancashire RTS Programme Awards 2013-14

Happy Valley actor Sarah Lancashire stars as social worker Miriam who is thrust into the spotlight when a child in her care, Kiri, is abducted and killed after an unsupervised visit to her biological family. The no-nonsense social worker loves and believes in her job, but has a maverick and instinctive approach to dealing with the children she looks after, which draws attention as the media buzz intensifies.

Miriam (Lancashire) and the families at the centre of the storm are forced to ask tough questions, not just of themselves, but of those they love the most.  

Happy Valley's Sally Wainwright: "I write people I want to be, not who I am"

The screenwriter received the Judges’ Award among others at the RTS Programme Awards 2017 for her “outstanding contribution to the UK’s television and media industry.”

“I feel very lucky that I have been able to achieve my ambitions and been able to do the things that I want to do,” she says humbly.

She is humble too about her past achievements: Baftas, RTS Awards, TV Choice Awards, Broadcast awards and more litter the shelves of her study in her Cotswold home.

“It’s nice to be recognised,” she says.

Sherlock's Andrew Scott takes on monsters for CBeebies

The animated pre-school series, School of Roars, is about five young monsters as they experience school for the first time.

The five monster-lings tackle each school day with the help of their lovable teacher Miss Grizzlesniff, voiced by Kathy Burke, who guides them through monstery classes in maths, music, cookery and life.

Sarah Lancashire appears as the Headmonstress, Mrs Twirlyhorn, and Sherlock villain Andrew Scott, plays the narrator – as well as a number of other characters including Mr Marrow the cookery teacher.