Happy Valley star Rhys Connah has responded to a fan theory that his character Ryan Cawood will follow in his granny's footsteps by becoming a police officer. The actor has won praise from viewers of the BBC One drama after reprising his role for the third and final series.
The gritty Sally Wainwright drama came to a spectacular end on Sunday night (February 5), nearly 10 years after the writer first introduced fans to Sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, and villain Tommy Lee Royce, portrayed by James Norton.
Fans had to wait seven years between series two and three as acclaimed television writer Sally waited for Rhys to be old enough to portray Ryan as a teen. "It’s not very often that things like this happen and I’m realising how much easier it probably would have been for everyone involved, just to cast someone like me and make the series two years later," the 16-year-old actor said on Loose Women in his first TV appearance since the finale on Monday (February 6).
"I'm incredibly honoured that she waited seven or eight years, all that time, just so I could grow up and play this part more convincingly." His appearance on the show came after fans demanded Ryan be the centre of a Happy Valley spin-off which would follow his own career in the police force after his gran retried after 30 years.
There was a moment during the finale in which someone mistook Ryan for a new recruit and when Catherine explained it was her grandson, Ryan gave a wry smile at the thought. @VictoriaBee tweeted: "Please let there be a #HappyValley spinoff with Ryan becoming a police officer."
@howitts72 echoed: "Can we have another series please where Ryan is the new local police officer #HappyValley." @UploadTV_ posted: "The BBC would need to be commissioning a spin off with Ryan becoming a police officer in another 6 years time or else #HappyValleyFinale #HappyValley.."
And appearing in a fresh interview on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (February 7) as the dust settled on the Happy Valley finale, it appears Rhys wouldn't be opposed to the idea of starring in a spin-off. "If Sally asked me to do pretty much any role again I'd be up for it..." he said.
"Let me say this clear, there are no plans for a season four. As of now, Sally is completely happy with how she's left the series but if in seven years Sally came to me and said, 'Do you want to play Ryan seven years on when he's a police officer', him a Chesko are inspectors or something, I would absolutely do that without a heartbeat. I'd 100% go for it."
And Rhys was fully behind his co-star Sarah Lancashire being awarded a Damehood following calls for her to get the prestigious honour for her services to acting. "If anyone is deserving of a Damehood it's her," the teen star said. "She's so supportive on set. The love and care she has put into this series is unrivalled by anyone. She's just incredible."
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