As BBC's Happy Valley continues to captivate fans, some have come up with a theory as to who Tommy Lee Royce's dad could be. While we know that the killer's mum was a heroin addict who was murdered at the start of the series two, his father's identity has never emerged.
Now, fans of the show have a theory that it could be Clare Cartwright's boyfriend Neil Ackroyd (Con O'Neill) who has been taking Ryan Cawood to see his dad in prison. For 18 months, Neil has been taking the teen, behind grandmother Catherine Cawood's back, to visit the convicted killer (played by James Norton) in prison in Sheffield. Fans think that Neil has taken pity on the killer and his son because he is actually Tommy Lee's dad.
Catherine blames Tommy for her daughter Becky’s death as she killed herself shortly after he brutally raped her. Dumbstruck as to why Ryan would want a relationship with the criminal, Catherine couldn't believe it when she learned Neil had been taking him.
And fans have been speculating that there could be a reason why he is the one who made the connection between the killer and Ryan. If he was Tommy's dad that makes Ryan his grandson. Tim Bolton on Twitter said: "Neil definitely has connections to Tommy. I don't think he bumped into Claire in the street by accident either."
Alice P said: "I'm convinced that Claire's boyfriend Neil is Tommy's father?"
Another Twitter user added: ‘I recalled these bits from the 2nd season: Police never found the killer of TLR’s mother, did they? Did Neil relapse because of his past costly affair, or because of TLR’s mother’s murder? With @spiceyw’s writing, there’s never a coincidence. #happyvalley.’
Samantha Herbert said: "Anyone else wondering what Tommy Lee Royce has on Neil. Neil is clearly scared of him."
Several viewers also pointed out that in a previous season of Happy Valley, Catherine was determined to find out who Tommy’s father was, but the answer was never revealed. Could they be right?
Another said that Tommy Lee was growing his hair to look more like Neil, and speculated that they could be using Ryan for an escape attempt from prison.
Happy Valley airs on BBC One on Sundays at 9pm
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