It’s the series that has taken the nation by storm and now, only two episodes remain of BBC’s Happy Valley. Tommy Lee Royce actor James Norton has revealed that his own parents feature in the show.
Chatting to the BBC, Norton, 37, explained how he’d kept show secrets close to his chest despite working with his parents, who were extras. "My dad is the worst holder of any secret, so I fiercely kept it away from him, even though they were on set as extras,” he said, “They come on as extras occasionally and they came to Hebden Bridge with their dog, which was fun. But no, I've kept it pretty close to my chest.”
He added: "Also, I think no-one really wants to know. I've rarely found someone who knows and loves the show, who is keen to hear what happens." The fourth episode of the series concluded with Norton’s character making a dramatic escape from prison. You can read more about these tense scenes here.
Read more: I'm a Happy Valley super fan and this is how I think the series is going to end
Elsewhere in the interview, Norton described how he and co-star Sarah Lancashire would receive copies of the Happy Valley scripts first. The two of them would then withhold information from their fellow cast members until they were given the scripts.
Commenting on the standard of the scripts, Norton said it was “Sally [Wainwright, writer] letting rip in her wonderful way. Going against expectation, but also giving you what you want.” He then added: “There's also a little bit of melancholy tinge there because it's the end of a very significant chapter for everyone."
Happy Valley began in 2014 and has won two BAFTAs for Best Drama. The series delves into the life of sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire), who is haunted by Norton's violent criminal Tommy Lee Royce. After filming the first two seasons, the cast had to wait for seven years so young actor Rhys Connah, who plays Tommy's son Ryan, could grow older, allowing the story to develop.
Happy Valley continues on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday, January 29. For more TV and showbiz stories, subscribe to our newsletter here.
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