In a cliffhanger that left Happy Valley fans reeling, there was a murderous twist for abused wife Joanna Hepworth in the latest episode of the Calder Valley-based crime drama. Jaws dropped at the end of episode three of series three as viewers realised they had underestimated pharmacist Faisal Bhatti, played by Amit Shah.
Joanna and Faisal were hatching a plan to drug and murder her bullying PE teacher husband Rob, drive him to Huddersfield and leave him in his car. A desperate Joanna got her neighbour and lover on board after lying that Rob knew he had been supplying her with diazepam.
With the drugs on hand in a loaded syringe, Faisal was fuming when Joanna tried to back out and confessed: "I lied, he doesn't know about you. I just said that so you'd help me but he doesn't. So we don't have to do this." And she asked: "Is that alright – not doing it?"
READ MORE:
During a furious row he fell back on her kitchen counter and got back up with a rolling pin which he used to strike her over the head, knocking her out. Then Joanna appeared to be still alive when her home phone rang with Sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, leaving her a message.
As Catherine's voice sounded out across the kitchen, fans were left wondering if Faisal would deliver the lethal injection on Joanna. One viewer @DavidJosephLaw2 tweeted: "I said he'd kill Joanna. Amazing show, so tense you don't know what's gonna happen next."
@itsamy_xo wrote: "Can we just appreciate the acting of the woman who plays Joanna. That scene at the end there where he bashed her skull in and she’s having a fit.
And @bcfc9358 told actress Mollie Winnard who plays Joanna: "@molliewinnard big fan of Happy Valley, thought I recognised your name from somewhere, and it was @itvcorrie. Shame if Joanna is a goner."
Manchester actress Mollie played twisted Kayla Clifton in Coronation Street in 2018. Her character held Bethany Platt, played by Lucy Fallon, hostage after her policeman dad Neil raped and groomed the teen in Corrie.
Kayla didn't believe that her father was capable and came to Weatherfield to seek revenge on Bethany for getting her father jailed. After learning the truth, Kayla apologised to Bethany for not believing her but the character hasn't been heard from since.
Fellow former Coronation Street star Sacha Parkinson, who played Sian Powers, cheered on Instagram about her role as Joanna: "Smashing it!" And Victoria Ekanoye who played Angie Appleton enthused: "I LOVE ME SOME MILLIE."
only_foolslines told her: "Your performance in this is nothing short of outstanding!" And lucyfallonangel wrote: "Wow you’re an incredible actress Mol you deserve the best of everything with your career."
READ NEXT:
