1 week Ago By Mike Taylor
Happy Valley was a massive hit for the BBC and drew in millions of viewers every week. The show first premiered in 2014, introducing audiences to the tough and resilient Sgt Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, who was struggling to cope with the loss of her teenage daughter to suicide. Catherine blamed her abusive ex, Tommy Lee Royce, for her daughter's death and went on to raise her grandson Ryan alongside her sister Clare.
However, when a local businessman's daughter went missing, Catherine was tasked with solving the case, which led her to cross paths with Tommy once again. The brainchild of writer Sally Wainwright, Happy Valley became a major TV event when its third and final series aired in 2023. According to Deadline, it was the second most-watched TV show in the UK last year, with its latest season drawing in huge audiences.
A year after the ending of Happy Valley, we're taking a look at what the cast has been up to since, including their most notable roles and where you can expect to see them next. Sarah Lancashire, who played the lead role of Catherine Cawood, won numerous awards for her performances on the show, including a National Television Award, which is voted for by the public, last year. She was also honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award for her "dedication to the television industry" and her "talent" at the Royal Television Society Awards last year.
Lancashire recently starred in the HBO Max drama, Julia, where she portrayed the title character and renowned American TV chef, Julia Child. Her next role will be in the forthcoming Netflix spy thriller series Black Doves, where she will play a spymaster named Reed. Sarah has been wedded to TV producer Peter Salmon, who is now 67, since 2001.
It's believed that they jointly launched the production company Via Pictures. The pair share a son, and Sarah also has two older children from a previous marriage. Tommy Lee Royce was the chilling villain of the show who seemed to take pleasure in tormenting Catherine and targeting his son and the person she cherished most - her grandson Ryan.
Their story concluded dramatically when Tommy surrendered himself and set himself ablaze. Post Happy Valley, Norton has featured as Island Records boss Chris Blackwell in Bob Marley: One Love and the TV series The Nevers. He is slated to appear in the Netflix film Joy and ITV drama Playing Nice.
Rumours are swirling that he could be the next James Bond. Clare Cartwright resided with her elder sister Catherine and assisted in raising her grandson Ryan. She had a notable confrontation with her sister after it was revealed that she and boyfriend Neil were secretly taking Ryan to visit Tommy in prison.
Before taking on the role of Catherine's sister, Siobhan Finneran was recognised for her performances in Benidorm and as factory worker Josie Phillips in ITV's long-standing soap Coronation Street . The actress, hailing from Lancashire, has also featured in popular shows such as Downton Abbey, Cold Feet and Doctor Who. Recently, Finneran appeared in the latest series of BBC Three's Alma's Not Normal, the final episode of Inside No.
9, Time and The Reckoning. Despite having no upcoming projects announced, it won't be long before Rhys Connah reappears on our televisions. Connah has been playing Ryan Cawood since the beginning, and audiences have enjoyed watching his character develop.
The character of Ann has arguably experienced the most significant transformation from series one to three, evolving from a spoilt child to a kidnap victim and from a trainee police officer to a potential detective. She also participated in one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of series three where she bluntly revealed the truth about Ryan's father to him. Since first portraying Ann in 2014, the County Wexford-born actress has secured some impressive roles.
She played Jessie Eden in Peaky Blinders, Makee in the game adaptation Halo, Simone Turner in The Capture, and is well known in Ireland for her role in Love/Hate. Prior to her role as Ann, she starred alongside James Norton in Northmen: A Viking Saga and had parts in The Village, Ripper Street, and films '71 and Philomena. Derek Riddell portrayed Richard Cawood, a journalist and Catherine's ex-husband who was deeply affected by the death of their daughter Becky.
Throughout the series, Richard plays a significant role and is present during Tommy's dramatic court escape. Derek Riddle is a familiar face in the acting industry, known for his roles in The Missing, Gentleman Jack, and Industry. According to his IMDB profile, Riddell will next appear in the detective drama Bodies alongside a host of other Scottish actors.
He also has a part in another detective drama, Payback, which features Peter Mullan from Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Con O'Neill took on the role of Neil Ackroyd, a character that divided opinions. He joined the show in its second series as Clare's boyfriend, a former alcoholic.
O'Neill has had numerous TV and film roles, including The Batman (2022) and The Penguin, Chernobyl, and a minor role in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Post Happy Valley, he appeared in Russell T Davies' drama Nolly and HBO series Our Flag Means Death as pirate Izzy Hands. His next role will be alongside Academy Award-winning actor Mark Rylance in the short film, The Way of the Wind.
George Costigan played Nevison Gallagher. Like many of his Happy Valley co-stars, it might be easier to list what George hasn't been in. His extensive credits include Vera, Scott and Bailey, Casualty, Midsomer Murders, Emmerdale , Hetty Wainthrop, Kavanagh QC.
.. The list could go on, but you get the idea.
George is best known for his role as the repugnant Patrick Fairbank in Line of Duty, a high-ranking police officer implicated in a child sex abuse ring. In recent years, he has featured in Gentleman Jack, Ridley and Maryland. Amit Shah portrayed Faisal Bhatti, a pharmacist who illegally sold prescription drugs for profit.
After killing Joanna Hepworth, he frantically attempts to conceal her death. Shah has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including Black Mirror, Doctor Who, His Dark Materials and Death in Paradise. Post Happy Valley, Shah took on roles such as Rishi Sunak in The Windsors, Jas Singh in Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Vera.
According to his IMDB profile, he's set to star in The Man In The Hat and Chocolate Cake. Rick Warden played Mike Taylor. His first significant role was as Harry F Welsh in the iconic World War Two series Band of Brothers in 2001.
Since then, he has been a constant presence on screen, featuring in The Bill, Hustle, Rome, Primeval, and many more during the 2000s. In the 2010s, he secured roles in Sherlock, Holby City, Misfits, The Pact, Vera, and ITV's recent Trigger Point. Warden recently appeared in the ITV drama Red Eye, The Jetty and Sister Boniface Mysteries.
.
