Svoboda | Graniru | BBC Russia | Golosameriki | Facebook
Jump to content

Happy Valley (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Lizzie Nonesuch (talk | contribs) at 16:00, 12 June 2014 (additional production information and review). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Happy Valley
Alt= Happy Valley title card
GenreDrama
Written bySally Wainwright
Directed by
Starring
Opening themeTrouble Town
Ending themeTrouble Town
ComposerBen Foster
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerKaren Lewis
Running time60 minutes
Production companyRed Production Company
Original release
Network
Release29 April 2014 (2014-04-29) –
present

Happy Valley is a British drama television series that was first aired on BBC One on 29 April 2014. The six-part series was written by Sally Wainwright and directed by Euros Lyn, Sally Wainwright and Tim Fywell. BBC One producers and Wainwright are currently in active discussion regarding a possible second series of Happy Valley.[1][2]

Plot

Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) is a strong-willed police sergeant in the Yorkshire valleys, still coming to terms with the suicide of her daughter. Just as she seems to be getting back on top of her life, she spots Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton), the man she believes to be responsible for the events that drove her daughter to suicide, walking the streets of her town. She soon becomes obsessed with finding Royce, unaware that he is involved in the secret kidnapping of Ann Gallagher (Charlie Murphy), a plot orchestrated by Ashley Cowgill (Joe Armstrong). Things quickly take a dark turn as they scramble to keep the kidnapping secret, although Catherine is on to them.

Cast

2

Production

The commissioning of Happy Valley for BBC One was announced by Ben Stephenson on 22 November 2012. The series was written by Sally Wainwright, produced by Karen Lewis and directed by Euros Lyn, Sally Wainwright and Tim Fywell.[3][4]

Filming began in Calderdale in November 2013.[5][6] Locations in the area included Huddersfield, Halifax, Todmorden, Luddenden, Mytholmroyd, Bradford, Keighley, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall. A former West Yorkshire police station was used for some scenes, and additional filming took place at North Light Film Studios at Brookes Mill, Huddersfield.[7]

The name Happy Valley is what local police in Calderdale call the area because of its drug problem.[8]

Episode list

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers (millions)
Sourced directly from BARB
1"Episode 1"Euros LynSally Wainwright29 April 2014 (2014-04-29)7.64
Catherine Cawood is a sergeant in a small town in West Yorkshire, riddled with a drug culture that seems impossible to tackle. Kevin Weatherill is an accountant in a large company run by his late father's best friend, Nevison. When Nevison refuses to pay Kevin's daughter's school fees, which Kevin believes Nevison owes him, Kevin orchestrates a kidnapping plot with local thugs Ashley Cowgill and Tommy Lee Royce against Nevison's daughter, Ann. Only for the whole thing to backfire. Sergeant Catherine Cawood lives with her recovering heroin addict sister and brings up her eight-year-old grandson, Ryan. Whilst visiting Ryan's teacher regarding his behavioural problems, Catherine reveals her daughter was raped by Tommy Lee Royce, which drove her daughter to commit suicide shortly after giving birth to Tommy's son, Ryan whom Catherine has raised alone ever since. The episode ends with a very anxious Kevin entering Catherine's West Yorkshire police station to report the kidnapping. But he changes his mind at the last minute.
2"Episode 2"Euros LynSally Wainwright6 May 2014 (2014-05-06)6.62
After spotting Tommy Lee Royce, Catherine is determined to find him and comes close to busting the kidnapping plot in the process. Kevin, who is overcome with guilt at seeing Nevison's despair, confesses everything to his shocked wife Jenny, who urges him not to take anymore money from Ashley. However, Kevin is reluctant to say no to money when they are in desperate need of it. Catherine becomes distressed when her ex-husband Richard continues with his refusal to accept Ryan.
3"Episode 3"Euros LynSally Wainwright13 May 2014 (2014-05-13)6.79
The valley is rocked by the sudden, unprovoked murder of young police officer Kirsten McAskill, while Ashley and Lewis panic that Tommy Lee Royce's actions will lead to them being exposed. Catherine begins seeing her dead daughter as she struggles to come to terms with Kirsten's death, and reveals to Clare that she blames herself. Nevison's wife Helen urges him to involve the police in finding Ann, but he refuses, believing Ann is in too much danger.
4"Episode 4"Sally WainwrightSally Wainwright20 May 2014 (2014-05-20)7.33
Catherine is still haunted by Kirsten's death, and her depression spurs her on her quest to find Tommy Lee Royce. Realising that the net is closing in on them, Ashley orders Tommy to 'dispose' of Ann, but instead he holds her prisoner in his mother's cellar. Following her hunch, Catherine manages to speak with Helen face to face, and is stunned when Helen admits everything. With all falling into place, Catherine's heroic actions are shattered when Royce murderously assaults her, leaving both Ann and Catherine to fight for their lives.
5"Episode 5"Tim FywellSally Wainwright27 May 2014 (2014-05-27)7.1
In hospital, Catherine fights for her life following Tommy Lee Royce's attack, while Clare and Daniel take bedside vigil. When she finally pulls through, she learns that Tommy has escaped the police, and is still at large. She falls further into her depression when she learns she has missed Kirsten's funeral, and takes her anger out on Ryan when he continues to misbehave at school. Tommy kills his partner in crime, Lewis, and temporary flatmate, Brett, because they both posed a threat to keeping the kidnapping under wraps from the police. Whilst murdering Lewis, he fights back, stabbing Tommy in the abdomen. Tommy assumes a disguise to stay unseen from the public in Hebden Bridge. Meanwhile, Ashley is arrested but is released after telling secrets to the police about a large drug smuggling trade he knew of, with his family being put into Witness Protection.
6"Episode 6"Tim FywellSally Wainwright3 June 2014 (2014-06-03)TBA
A weakened, still disguised Tommy possess the knowledge of where his son lives and attends school. Clare invites family and friends over to hold a birthday party for Catherine, which Catherine didn't want. Tensions arise when Daniel lets slip some information of Becky and Tommy's old relationship, meaning Catherine's allegation of rape leading to suicide may be untrue. Ashley is murdered in a drive-by shooting the day before he is due to be put into Witness Protection; the police reason someone higher up in the drug trade Ashley had blown a whistle on had heard of his blabbing, and had him silenced as a retaliation. Tommy finds a way to regularly see Ryan without raising suspicion to Ryan's family, but soon turns into a dangerous hostage situation with Catherine on-scene. After many years, Catherine finally apprehends the brutal criminal Tommy Lee Royce. The series ends with Catherine standing on a high-leveled hill of Hebden Bridge, with her smiling into the camera.

Reception

The first episode aired on 29 April 2014 at 21:00. It garnered 7.64 million viewers, and it was the second most watched show of the week (commencing 28 April 2014) for BBC One.[9] The BBC reported that the series received an average consolidated audience of 7.2 million viewers over six episodes, and an additional 8.1 million requests for the show on BBC iPlayer.[10] Radio Times called Happy Valley a "word-of-mouth hit" which "steadily became a success outside the normal audience for the slot and channel."[11]

After "Episode 1" aired, Ofcom received four complaints under the category "violence and dangerous behaviour", but they did not pursue the matter.[12]

Reviews from the press have been mixed. Some reviewers have criticised the show for its graphic content, especially in "Episode 3" and "Episode 4". The Daily Mail's TV correspondent Alasdair Glennie questioned if the BBC went "too far" in "Episode 4" with the brutal attack on police sergeant Cawood, following the murder of one of her officers. The Daily Mail claimed that the BBC had received "15 complaints about ["Episode 4"], which aired between 9pm and 10pm after the watershed, while 45 viewers contacted the [BBC] corporation to say how much they enjoyed the show." Vivienne Pattison, a campaigner for stronger television regulations and a part of Mediawatch-uk, declared that the violence "is part of a worrying trend in TV drama."[13]

In response to the criticism, Happy Valley's creator-writer, Wainwright, defended the show as "a quality, well-written drama" and stated, "Judging by the amount of email, texts, tweets I've had, I don't think anyone is asking me to apologise."[1] In an interview with Radio Times, Wainwright said the level of violence had been carefully considered and that it was done responsibly by showing the psychological and physical damage suffered by Catherine.[14]

Other critics have praised the show. Vicky Frost of The Guardian wrote: "To get hung up on the violence of this BBC1 kidnap drama misses the point. It is beautifully written by Sally Wainwright, draws an astonishing performance from Sarah Lancashire—and between them, they have created something truly unmissable."[15] Another Daily Mail TV correspondent, Christopher Stevens, rated "Episode 4" with 5/5 stars, saying that "every installment has been unmissable" and "Bafta bosses might as well get next year's trophy inscribed now" for star Sarah Lancashire.[16] Gerard O'Donovan of The Telegraph called Happy Valley "complex, thrilling and brilliantly written and acted" and "one of the best watches of 2014."[17]

Home media

Happy Valley series one will be released on DVD in region two and four by BBC Shop. It is currently on pre-order guarantee, being released on 16 June 2014. The DVD includes two discs, featuring 351 minutes worth of footage.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Maggie (25 May 2014). "Happy Valley writer: I don't have to apologise for show's violence". The Guardian/The Observer. Guardian News. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. ^ "We're in talks about more #HappyValley". @BBCOne. Twitter. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  3. ^ Eames, Tom (11 December 2013). "Sarah Lancashire, Steve Pemberton for BBC One thriller Happy Valley". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Happy Valley - New drama for BBC One starring Sarah Lancashire and James Norton". BBC. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  5. ^ Rees, Caroline (3 November 2013). "Sally Wainwright: not the same old". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  6. ^ Bremner, Jade (11 December 2013). "Last Tango in Halifax actress Sarah Lancashire begins shooting new crime drama in Yorkshire". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Creative England provides filming location and crew support to new BBC drama Happy Valley when filming in Yorkshire". Creative England. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Sarah Lancashire: 'Happy Valley is one of the hardest jobs I've had. It's brutal'". What's On TV. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  9. ^ "BARB - Weekly Top 10 (28 Apr 2014)". BARB. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  10. ^ "BBC One drama Happy Valley closes with 7.8m viewers". BBC. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  11. ^ Seale, Jack (3 June 2014). "Why Happy Valley is the drama of the year so far". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company Limited. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin, Issue 254" (PDF). Ofcom. Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. 19 May 2014. p. 68. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  13. ^ Glennie, Alasdair (21 May 2014). "Did the BBC's brutal Happy Valley go too far? Viewers shocked by blood-soaked climax to violent TV drama". Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Happy Valley writer Sally Wainwright - I've got plans for a second series". Radio Times. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  15. ^ Frost, Vicky (27 May 2014). "Have you been watching … Happy Valley". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  16. ^ Stevens, Christopher (21 May 2014). "Sorry, Olivia, but you've already been pipped to next year's Bafta: Christopher Stevens reviews last night's TV". Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  17. ^ O'Donovan, Gerard (27 May 2014). "Happy Valley, episode 5, review: 'exceptionally well crafted'". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Happy Valley (DVD)". BBC Worldwide. British Broadcasting Company (BBC). Retrieved 3 June 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Happy_Valley_(TV_series)&oldid=612649731"