Sarah Lancashire stepped in to change 'not right' Happy Valley finale
The final ever episode airs on Sunday!
Last updated 2nd Feb 2023
We are now just days away until the final EVER episode of gritty BBC drama Happy Valley, starring the wonderful Sarah Lancashire and James Norton.
Following that cliffhanger ending during Sunday night's (28th January) penultimate episode, details about the finale have now been released.
As fans continue to share their theories about how the drama will end, actor James Norton, who plays the role of bad boy Tommy Lee Royce in the show, has revealed to the The Big Issue his co-star Sarah actually had creative influence on the final episode.
He told the publication: "We had one version of the end that didn’t feel quite right. Sally Wainwright knew it and Sarah spoke up and said it doesn’t feel right. A month later, we got a new script and it all fell into place. It was magical."
When is the final episode of Happy Valley?
The final episode of series three, which is also the final episode of the entire show, will air at 9pm on BBC One on Sunday 5th February 2023.
What will happen in the final of Happy Valley?
It's a huge secret! 🤫
Despite many fan theories about what will happen in the final episode following Tommy Lee Royce's escape from the courthouse, it's understood the scenes from the episode have been filmed in a number of different ways!
A TV source recently told Mail Online: "The scripts were seen by those who needed to see them but even they haven't given away how things will come to an end because the scenes were filmed in different ways,"
"From the beginning of the planning of series three, Sally and her team wanted to end the show in a sensational way and give viewers an ending they won't forget - she also didn't want any spoilers to ruin things. It is going to be epic, and all the more so because nobody knows the ending. It has been really cleverly done to keep fans guessing right up until the very end."
Bosses have released a teaser trailer for the final episode, check it out below:
Actor Con O'Neill, who plays Neil Ackroyd on the show, appeared on This Morning on Thursday 2nd February, where he revealed to hosts Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield that the finale will 'blow your mind'.
He said: "When I read the script for the last episode, it blew my mind. Sally has written an extraordinary ending to the show."
How can I watch Happy Valley?
Series one-three of Happy Valley are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Is there going to be another series of Happy Valley?
Sadly not! It was announced that series three will be the final ever production of Happy Valley.
Speaking to The Big Issue, James Norton said: "Selfishly, I love Happy Valley, creatively and commercially. So I’m slightly conflicted because personally, I would love to keep going. But deep down I’m with Sally. This is the right call. So I hope the ending doesn’t disappoint."
Back in December 2021, Executive Producer Will Johnston also said: "It definitely isn't coming back – and again this is from Sally and Sarah who completely and rightly feel that you can have too much of a good thing.
"We're really not doing any more. You're a few weeks away from the ending but when you get to it, I really hope you'll feel content that if that's the last you ever see of the characters of Happy Valley, it was a big way to go out."
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The final ever episode of Happy Valley airs at 9pm on Sunday 5th February.
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