BBC’s Happy Valley to Return for Season Three

Happy Valley, which last aired on BBC One in 2016, is set to return for a third and final season in 2022.

Creator Sally Wainwright has written six new episodes for the hit drama, which are set to begin filming in early 2022. Happy Valley season three will be produced by Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack, War & Peace) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, in co-production with AMC Networks for AMC+, which will be the exclusive home for the season in the U.S. and Canada.

In season three, Sergeant Catherine Cawood discovers the remains of a gangland murder, which sparks a chain of events that leads her back to murderer and sex offender Tommy Lee Royce. Sarah Lancashire will reprise her role as Cawood, with James Norton returning as Royce and Siobhan Finneran returning as Cawood’s sister.

Patrick Harkins and Fergus O’Brien will direct, with Wainwright and Lancashire executive producing alongside Faith Penhale and Will Johnston for Lookout Point and Ben Irving for BBC.

Wainwright said: “I’m delighted to find myself back in the world of Catherine Cawood and her family and colleagues for the final installment of the Happy Valley trilogy. It’s been wonderful to see the lasting impact this series has had on audiences all over the world. I’m thrilled that Sarah, James and Siobhan are back on board for what I hope will be the best season yet and thrilled once again to be working with the wonderful team at Lookout Point, the BBC and our new colleagues at AMC.”

Piers Wenger, director of BBC Drama, commented: “When Happy Valley first launched on the BBC in 2014, it changed the landscape of crime drama completely. Sally has crafted a magnificent conclusion that is sure to make this third and final series one of television’s most highly anticipated and unmissable moments. Huge thanks go to Sally, Sarah and the Lookout Point team, plus James and Siobhan, for coming together for this special moment, and we’re delighted to welcome AMC on board this final series.”

Kristin Jones, executive VP of international programming for AMC Networks, said: “We’re thrilled for AMC+ to be the exclusive U.S. home of this highly rated and enthusiastically reviewed hit series. Sally Wainwright’s riveting police series is the perfect addition to AMC+’s ever-widening library of acclaimed and international dramas, and we’re looking forward to catching up with the upcoming adventures of Catherine and the other residents of this intriguing town.”