A host of familiar names return for the show’s final run. 

Back in October, the BBC confirmed Happy Valley‘s long-awaited return for a third and final series. The crime drama, set in the Calder Valley, has won critical plaudits and big audiences. It’s also scored BAFTAs for writer Sally Wainwright and it’s star Sarah Lancashire.

Naturally, Lancashire is back in her central role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood. James Norton joins her as nemesis Tommy Lee Royce with Siobhan Finneran as Catherine’s sister Clare Cartwright.

As filming commences in West Yorkshire on six episodes, there’s now a wider list of returnees; Neil Ackroyd (Con O’Neill), Nevison Gallagher (George Costigan) and his daughter Ann (Charlie Murphy) – Catherine’s police colleague.

Additionally, Derek Riddell is back as Richard Cawood, Karl Davies as Daniel Cawood, Susan Lynch as Alison Garrs, Rick Warden as Mike Taylor, Vincent Franklin as Andy Shepherd and Rhys Connah as Catherine’s grandson Ryan Cawood.

New Faces

This series, Amit Shah (The Long Call), Mark Stanley (The Girl Before) and Mollie Winnard (All Creatures Great And Small) join the cast. All apparently in pivotal roles.

Here’s the synopsis for Happy Valley Series 3:

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 16 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. 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 Series 3 is written by Sally Wainwright and made by Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack, War and Peace) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with AMC Networks on board as co-producers.

Understandably, there’s no suggestion of an air date quite yet but we’ll keep you posted.