Filming begins in Calderdale for second series of Happy Valley

Sets have already been spotted across the borough, with some scenes expected to be filmed in Hebden Bridge and other parts of Calderdale.

As series two opens, Catherine (Sarah Lancashire), the no-nonsense police sergeant is back and heading up her team of dedicated police officers in the Calder Valley.

With Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) firmly behind bars, Catherine suspects there may be another serial killer on the loose and makes a gruesome discovery that will have shocking repercussions for her and her family. Meanwhile, a new detective, DS John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle) arrives on the block with his own set of problems, and despite being firmly under lock and key, Tommy forms a bond with a mysterious female admirer (Shirley Henderson).

Siobhan Finneran (Benidorm, Downton Abbey) James Norton (Life in Squares, Granchester), George Costigan (Scott & Bailey, Homefront), Karl Davies (Emmerdale, Game of Thrones), Charlie Murphy (Love/Hate, The Village) return to the six-part drama and will be joined by Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street, Mr Selfridge), Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Cucumber), Shirley Henderson (Southcliffe, Jamaica Inn), Amelia Bullmore (Scott & Bailey, Twenty Twelve), Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey, The Crimson Field), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter, The Syndicate,) Con O’Neill (Cucumber, Uncle) and Vincent Franklin (Cucumber, The Thick Of It).

Writer and Executive Producer Sally Wainwright said: “I am thrilled to be embarking on a second series. We were delighted and overwhelmed with the viewers’ response to series one and it’s clear that there’s a huge appetite to see more of the characters and drama among the TV viewing public.”

Last year, the critically acclaimed multi layered series was a huge ratings hit for BBC One during its six-week run, pulling in a weekly audience of almost 8 million viewers and an average overnight audience of 5.5 million.

Happy Valley has been nominated for and won over 30 awards including winning the prestigious Best Drama Series award at this year’s BAFTAs with writer Sally Wainwright also named Best Writer at the 2015 BAFTA Craft Awards. The series won Best European Drama at The Monte Carlo Television awards and Sarah Lancashire was also awarded Best Actress in the series.

Happy Valley won Best Drama at last year’s Broadcast Awards, Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Awards and TV Choice awards. Sarah Lancashire also won Best Actor for Happy Valley at the RTS Awards.

The second series of Happy Valley will be broadcast on BBC One in 2016.

All pictures by Steve Midgley.