Filming begins in Yorkshire on new crime thriller starring Sarah Lancashire

As filming commences on new six-part, BBC One drama Happy Valley, RED Production Company have announced an all star-cast lead by Sarah Lancashire (Last Tango In Halifax, The Paradise).

The shocking and compelling crime thriller from award-winning writer Sally Wainwright (Last Tango in Halifax, Scott & Bailey) also stars, Steve Pemberton (Whitechapel, Benidorm), Siobhan Finneran (The Syndicate, Downton Abbey), George Costigan (Unforgiven, Calendar Girls), Joe Armstrong (The Village, Robin Hood), James Norton (Rush, Death Comes to Pemberley), Adam Long (Spike Island, Waterloo Road), Karl Davies (Emmerdale, Game of Thrones), Ramon Tikaram (Casualty, Eastenders) and Charlie Murphy (Love/Hate, The Village).

Lancashire plays Catherine, a no-nonsense police sergeant who heads up a team of dedicated police officers in a rural valley in Yorkshire. When a staged kidnapping quickly spirals out of control and turns into a much more brutal and vicious series of crimes, Catherine finds herself involved in something significantly bigger than her rank, but unknowingly close to home.

Sarah Lancashire said: “Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild. It’s an emotional, complex, challenging role. I’m terrified, exhausted and freezing cold but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” 

Sally Wainwright, executive producer and writer, said: “I’m pleased that we’re filming Happy Valley right in the heart of Calderdale in West Yorkshire. It’s going to be hard work, but on screen it will look stunning”. 

Nicola Shindler, executive producer and founder of RED Production Company, adds: “Sally has done it once again, delivering an expertly crafted and brilliantly written drama series that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as Catherine and her team attempt to get to the bottom of a truly shocking crime. We’re delighted to have such a strong line-up of talent to bring the original and gripping scripts to life, in what is sure to be a remarkable piece of television.” 

Karen Lewis (Last Tango in Halifax, Exile) will produce the series; director is Euros Lyn (Broadchurch, Doctor Who). Executive producers are Nicola Shindler and Sally Wainwright for RED Production Company and Matthew Read for BBC. 

Happy Valley is currently filming in the Calder Valley area of Yorkshire and will be broadcast on BBC One in 2014.