Happy Valley's final season grips more than 11 million viewers
Happy Valley has proved a huge hit with viewers as more than 11 million have watched the first episode of season three so far.
Sally Wainwright's gritty police drama about Sergeant Catherine Cawood's (Sarah Lancashire) quest to bring murderer and rapist Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) to justice has also been the biggest on-demand title across all UK platforms so far this year.
Read more: How will Happy Valley end? All the fan theories
It is due to air its last ever episode this Sunday, with fans eager to see who will survive the dramatic final showdown between Catherine and Tommy, and looks set to be one of the most-watched shows of the year so far.
Data from 30 Days All Screens has shown that the first episode of season three, the last ever series of Happy Valley, has been watched by 11.3 million people so far and the drama is the biggest on-demand title across all platforms in the UK so far this year.
The BBC’s chief content officer, Charlotte Moore said: "Happy Valley is the ultimate event TV, Sally Wainwright’s emotional rollercoaster has gripped the nation and grown week on week across the start of 2023. Water cooler moments don’t get much bigger than the unmissable final ever episode this Sunday."
Read more: Happy Valley has filmed multiple endings to keep plot secret
Series creator Sally Wainwright added: "I’m thrilled and delighted that so many people are enjoying the show."
Actor Con O'Neill, who plays Neil Ackroyd in the BBC One show, told This Morning viewers this week to expect big things from Sunday's finale.
He said: "When I read the script for the last episode it blew my mind … Sally has written an extraordinary ending to the show."
Speaking ahead of season three airing, show star Norton said that he had been guessing along with the rest of the Happy Valley fans over the seven years since season two aired what would happen.
Norton said: "I think the reason this series is particularly exciting is because everyone knows it’s the last and so everyone is going to be waiting for something to happen, and everyone is sort of predicting and guessing how Sally wants to end it.
"I have been predicting for the last seven years how she is going to end it so it was really wonderful to read the script and hear her ideas - and they don’t disappoint."
Happy Valley's finale airs on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
Watch: Happy Valley releases trailer for explosive last battle between Catherine and Tommy
