The writer behind Happy Valley has spoken about creating the ‘complicated’ character of Catherine Cawood and how actor Sarah Lancashire expressed fears that the show wouldn’t resonate with audiences whilst working on the first season back in 2014.
The show, which aired its penultimate episode last night, stars the Oldham-born actress as a Police Sergeant in West Yorkshire as she solves cases and juggles family life following the prison release of Tommy Lee Royce, the man responsible for the brutal rape that drove her daughter to suicide.
The BBC show has been a bona fide success earning countless awards, including a Best Leading Actress BAFTA for Sarah Lancashire and two BAFTA wins for Best Drama Series.
READ MORE: BBC Happy Valley delivers breath-taking genius in penultimate episode
Happy Valley creator and writer Sally Wainwright appeared on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme on Monday morning (January 30) to discuss the success behind the hit show as it gears up for its last episode this Sunday.
When asked by presenter Martha Kearney if she had any idea the show would be so popular with viewers who took the character of Catherine to their hearts, Sally said: “When you first start writing a show, you hope they will and it’s kind of gold dust when it happens.
“I remember filming the first series and Sarah said to me ‘God, I hope people get this’ and it’s kind of inconceivable now that they wouldn’t but you never know when you're making the show.
“Whenever you make a show, you put the same amount of effort into everything you do and some shows perform and some shows don’t and you never really know until they’re out there and people respond to them.”
Sally said the show is inspired by a documentary about drug abuse and alcoholism in Hebden Bridge from filmmaker Jez Lewis and takes its name from the double meaning of the ‘extraordinarily beautiful part of the world’ that has its own set of issues.
Speaking about creating the ‘complicated’ character of Catherine Cawood, Sally said: “I get accused of writing strong women and weak men and that annoys me a bit because I think a good character is a complicated character. I think she’s complicated and she’s not always very likeable.”
Sally said the role of the show’s villain Tommy, played by James Norton, is in complete contrast to the complicated portrayal of Catherine. “I think he is weak, actually,” she told the BBC radio show. “He’s mentally strong but physically weak.”
After filming the final season of Happy Valley, Sally said she took some time off work but teased she plans to start work on a new show which is yet to be announced.
“Having worked non-stop for 20 years, I took six months off and I enjoyed it a bit too much actually,” Sally explained. “But I am actually starting work again come February.
“I’ll be going back onto that conveyor belt.”
Revealing she was learning to play the drums as ‘a bit of prep’ for the show, Sally teased: “Nothing has been announced yet so I’m not allowed to talk about it yet but hopefully it’ll be quite exciting.”
Happy Valley concludes on Sunday on BBC One.
Have a go at our quiz below or via this link to see which Happy Valley character you are:
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