Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley
(Picture: BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the finale of BBC drama Happy Valley, with star James Norton saying it was a “privilege” to work on the show as it came to a dramatic end.
Viewing figures reported on Monday by Broadcast suggest 7.5 million Britons tuned in to watch the gritty finale of the three-series BBC drama starring Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood and Norton as villain Tommy Lee Royce.
The ratings, supplied by Barb data from overnights.tv, make Happy Valley the highest rated show of 2023 so far. It means almost 42 per cent of people who were watching television at that time were watching the BBC drama.
The figure is expected to rise in coming days as more fans catch up on the conclusion on BBC iPlayer. Around five million tuned in to watch the first episode live as it was broadcast. However, the audience for the episode and the rest of the series swelled to more than 11 million in the following days.
The second episode of series three was watched on the night by 5.3 million viewers. This was significantly more than the 4.1 million who tuned in to watch Tom Bradby’s heavily publicised interview with Prince Harry on ITV which was broadcast at the same time.
Line of Duty - the long-running series about police corruption - is the current record holder, as it pulled in 12.8 million viewers for the final episode of its sixth series in 2021 making it the most-watched episode of any drama since records began in 2002.
As the finale was aired, seven years after the second series ended, some of its stars reminisced about working on the drama.
Norton spoke to GQ magazine - hailing Lancashire and series writer Sally Wainwright as “absolute heroes.”
The actor said: “You’ve got Sally Wainwright at her absolute best. Sarah Lancashire, standing opposite me, giving her absolute best. These absolute heroes, these Queens of our industry, are the best there are.
“So it was an absolute privilege. I know actors throw those big words around a lot, but it was genuinely one of the most special moments of my career.”
Rhys Connah, who plays Ryan - the grandson of Sergeant Cawood and son of Royce - said he hoped fans would agree the finale was “worth the wait.”
In an Instagram post, he wrote under a picture of himself and the two main stars: “One hour warning to get your tea and biscuits ready. I hope you all agree it has been worth the wait.”
Meanwhile, actor Amit Shah - who plays murdering pharmacist Faisal Bhatti - wrote: “Tonight the very final episode of Happy Valley will air. What a ride it has been and what a privilege to work with [Sally Wainwright and production company Lookout Point]. Thanks everyone for watching.”
RATINGS: A whopping 7.5m watched the final 70-minute episode of Happy Valley on BBC1 last night. More to follow on https://t.co/6HAdPSweEn shortly pic.twitter.com/LFNz0NGoOh
— Broadcast (@Broadcastnow) February 6, 2023
Critics and fans also praised the final episode. Critic Lucy Mangan said it was "brutal, tender, funny, compelling and heartbreaking to the last" in her five-star write-up.
Many critics predicted the show and its stars would be up for a host of awards. The first two series were huge critical hits - with both winning Bafta Television awards for both Drama Series and Writing: Drama. Lancashire won the Bafta Television award for Leading Actress for series two.
Fans on Twitter said the show was "incredible" "sensational" and lauded Lancashire and Norton as "two of the best."
In the final episode of Happy Valley, set on Catherine’s last day following 30 years of service in the police, the officer faces her nemesis Royce at her kitchen table.
A malicious war of words ensues - before the villain sets himself alight.
The final series returned on New Year’s Day.
