Happy Valley fans were introduced to convenience store worker Neil Ackroyd in the second series of the BBC One crime drama, and straight-talking Sergeant Catherine Cawood has always been sceptical. Played by Con O'Neill, the recovering alcoholic has been the focus Catherine's scrutiny after striking up a romance with her sister Clare Cartwright, who he has known since school.
As we saw from the start of series three, six years on, Neil has gone on to become an integral part of the family. However, Catherine's world was turned upside down when she discovered that grandson Ryan had been visiting his vile father Tommy Lee Royce in prison, and Neil and Clare had been taking him.
Catherine, played by Sarah Lancashire, had been trying to keep Ryan away from his evil father who raped her daughter Becky before she took her own life. In a tense showdown between Catherine and Clare, it was revealed that Neil accompanied Ryan on the visits while she waited for them in Sheffield, and this has led fans to wonder if Neil and psychopathic killer Tommy are connected.
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@elclco tweeted: "I am FULLY convinced that Neil is Tommy’s father and no one, not even Neil himself, could tell me otherwise." And @MarieMarie19781 decided: "I don't trust Neil at all."
@hannahdefoes commented: "I’ve said this before. Neil is WAY too chilled." and @ScutcherM exclaimed: "Neil lies! I just don’t believe him!"
Some viewers think Neil could even turn out to be Tommy's father. @AntonLappin said: "Neil is 100% Tommy's dad. This is all a set up to either get Ryan or kill Catherine."
@wallaceleighmia asked: "Anyone else think that Neil is Tommy’s dad?" and @VarleyLou wrote: "My mum has a theory that Neil is going to turn out to be Tommy Lee Royce’s dad and my head has fallen off…can anybody debunk this? Or is it possible? I can’t cope."
In Sunday's episode (January 22) Catherine visited Neil in his shop and pleaded with him to stop the visits. "It was worse than any of you will ever know what he did to her," she said about Becky. "That thing is not human and I'm asking you not to take Ryan." "I think I know that now," said Neil.
In episode four Ryan was told by Clare and Neil that they would no longer facilitate the visits, so he made his own way to Leeds to see his dad face trial for another murder.
In dramatic and violent scenes Tommy escaped from court in Leeds and rode off on a bicycle, and fans still think Neil has got something to do with it. @DawnBly68 tweeted: "I still think Neil is going to play a major part in the last 2 episodes, just something about him that I can't put my finger on!"
bexxx1983 said: "#HappyValley stil think there’s a link between Neil and Tommy." @BonsNots commented: "He's way too keen to roll over and show Royce his belly." And @LouNicholls said: "I still think Tommy is related to Neil…"
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