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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Katie Fitzpatrick

Happy Valley's James Norton shares gruesome Tommy Lee Royce snaps ahead of Sunday night's finale

It's the nation's most talked-about TV programme with excitement at fever pitch for the last ever episiode of Happy Valley, and actor James Norton has joined in by taking a trip down memory lane in Calder Valley. James, who plays evil psychopath Tommy Lee Royce, shared a series of brilliant throwback snaps on his Instagram.

In the third and final series killer Tommy is currently at large after escaping from court as he prepared to stand trial for murder. Viewers were left on a cliffhanger at the end of last weekend's episode as Tommy was in touch with his son Ryan via their games consoles while in hiding, plotting for the pair to start a new life together in Marbella.

James, who has played Tommy since Sally Wainwright's police drama launched in 2014, treated fans to some nostalgic behind-the-scenes pictures from series one. "Dropping some Happy Valley nostalgia before the finale on Sunday…these were taken nearly 10 years ago," he wrote. And he shared more with the words "Some more Happy Valley love."

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Among the gruesome collection was a picture of James lifting the top to show Tommy's stab wound after things turned ugly between the character and Lewis Whippey after the pair went on the run after abducting Ann Gallagher. He also posed with Charlie Murphy, who played survivor Ann, and Sophie Rundle who played policewoman Kirsten McAskill.

Sophie, whose character was brutally murdered by Tommy when she stopped the van carrying Ann, pulled a sad face as she filmed Sophie's final bloody scenes. James also added pictures of his on-screen son Ryan, played by Rhys Connah, as an eight-year-old when he visited his dad on a narrow boat and on his bicyle when Tommy was lurking in disguise.

He also shared a photo of himself grinning as he was pictured with a bloody face as Tommy after he received a battering from Ryan's granny Sergeant Catherine Cawood, his nemesis over the three series. In the current series the drama picked up from Ryan, as a teen, wanting to get to know his dad. He was secretly visiting him in prison with his aunt Clare Cartwright and her partner Neil Ackroyd.

dressed_by_julie_commented on the pictures: "Aaagh, don’t want it to end as know there can’t be a 'happy ending' for everyone?! Great casting! how can we prolong Tommy and Catherine for another series??????! PLEASE!"

lauramurfin578 said: "Don’t want it to end, such insane gripping thrilling television! Just what was needed in a dull January. Counting down the hours until the big finale! lots of love James xx"

And littlemiss.daydream replied: "These photos are incredible it is my dream to have BTS photos like these! You are truly living the dream! I can’t wait to see the final! What a journey!!"

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