Happy Valley actor Rhys Connah addressed the swirling rumours the BBC One show could return for a fourth series one day to see him reprise his role as Ryan Cawood.
The 16-year-old actor was the focal point of Sally Wainwright’s epic West Yorkshire trilogy, which aired to instant acclaim on Sunday nights keeping viewers gripped for weeks.
Sergeant Catherine Cawood’s story came to an end in a nerve-jangling extended finale, which offered a satisfying ending for many longtime fans of the show.
After stepping off the Happy Valley rollercoaster ride, many fans have taken to speculating whether there could one day be a fourth series of the show.
Creator Sally and actor-producer Sarah Lancashire have been clear that this is the definitive end of the series, but actor Rhys has said he would return to the show in a heartbeat if given the chance.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday morning, he told entertainment reporter Richard Arnold: “If Sally asked me to do pretty much any role again, I would be completely up for it.”
He then quickly clarified: “Let me just make it clear, I don't want anything out of context: there are no plans for season four. As of now, Sally is completely happy with how she’s left the series.”
However he added: “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?
“If he’s an inspector or something. I would absolutely do that without a heartbeat. I would go for it.”
As Rhys gave fans a glimmer of hope there could one day be more Happy Valley on our screens, he went on to praise the powerhouse that was Sarah Lancashire at the heart of the BBC One hit show.
He said: “If anyone deserves a damehood it’s her. She’s so supportive on set. The love and care she’s put into the series is unrivalled by anyone. It’s incredible.”
Rhys was just eight years old when he first appeared on the hit BBC crime drama, as season one aired back in 2014.
And the youngster made such an impression on creator Sally Wainwright, she waited eight years for a break between seasons two and three in order for actor Connah to grow older and then return to the story.
She previously told how she wanted character Ryan to be old enough to go places alone and make decisions about his life – including whether he wanted a relationship with his rapist father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton).
