BBC One has announced that a second series of Sally Wainwright’s drama Happy Valley has been commissioned.

Starring Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood, the first series pulled in a weekly consolidated audience of almost 8 million and an average overnight audience of 5.5 million earlier this year.

> Buy Series 1 on DVD on Amazon.

Series 2 will begin filming next year and will air later in 2015.

Executive producer Nicola Shindler commented: “Sally created a truly magnificent series with very real, complex characters, an engaging plot and breathtaking storyline. I am delighted that we will be able to delve deeper into Catherine’s world in Series 2.”

Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One, added: “Sally Wainwright’s sensational series gripped the nation. Visceral, emotional and provocative from beginning to end, it was fantastic to see our audience on tenterhooks, begging for more. The series is testimony to the creative ambition, quality and breadth of original British drama on BBC One and I can’t wait for the second series to return.”

Sarah Lancashire is currently filming the third series of BBC One’s Last Tango in Halifax.

Are you looking forward to Series 2? Let us know below…