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Happy Valley is returning for third and final season this Christmas

Happy Valley is returning for third and final season this Christmas

This Christmas everything comes to a conclusion in the final season of Happy Valley

Fans of Happy Valley will need to make a bit of space for the show's third and final season in their Christmas viewing calendar.

The award-winning BBC drama first debuted all the way back in 2014, with a second season following in 2016.

The BBC confirmed last year that one final season of the show would be making its way to our screens in 2022, and we won't have to wait long now for it to arrive.

Starring Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood and James Norton as disturbing criminal Tommy Lee Royce, audiences and critics have absolutely adored the show and spent years hoping it would return.

There were BAFTAs aplenty for the series, along with awards picked up by creator Sally Wainwright and Lancashire in the leading role.

Filming for the third season of Happy Valley took place throughout the year and they're almost ready to roll out what are expected to be the final episodes.

Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood.
BBC / Alamy Stock Photo

A plot synopsis outlining the basic premise of season three was released and sets the stage for the final instalment.

It said: "When Catherine discovers the remains of a gangland murder victim in a drained reservoir it sparks a chain of events that unwittingly leads her straight back to Tommy Lee Royce.

"Her grandson Ryan is now sixteen and still living with Catherine, but he has ideas of his own about what kind of relationship he wants to have with the man Catherine refuses to acknowledge as his father.

You can bet the third and final season of Happy Valley will be up for some BAFTAs.
Doug Peters / Alamy Stock Photo

"Still battling the seemingly never-ending problem of drugs in the valley and those who supply them, Catherine is on the cusp of retirement."

Happy Valley creator Wainwright said she was 'delighted' to be back working on the show and bringing the trilogy of seasons to an end.

She said it had been 'wonderful to see the lasting impact this series has had on audiences all over the world' and spoke of how 'thrilled' to have the major cast members back for the 'best season yet'.

Lancashire said it was 'time to let the dog see the rabbit', while Norton spoke about the 'wonderful and daunting' privilege of getting to play the cruel criminal Tommy one final time.

@scottygb/Twitter

As with previous seasons of the show, there will be six episodes to get through so while it might start at Christmas, audiences will have to keep their patience through into 2023 to make it right to the end.

Happy Valley will be part of the BBC's Christmas TV lineup, with the season three premiere being held in Halifax on 14 December, with fans able to apply for tickets to see it before anyone else.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: BBC, TV And Film