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Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Cathy Owen

BBC Happy Valley fans are all saying the same thing after 'most tense five minutes of television all week'

The latest episode of Happy Valley didn't disappoint with fans describing it as the "fastest hour of the week" and praising it for the levels of tension writer Sally Wainwright has created. Episode two of the final series of the popular BBC crime drama saw Sergeant Catherine Cawood find out about her grandson's secret. Ryan, now 16, has been keeping in touch with his evil father Tommy Lee Royce in prison behind Catherine's back.

The betrayal hits even harder once she finds out it was her sister Clare Cartwright and Clare's boyfriend Neil Ackroyd who have been taking Ryan to Sheffield for the visits. The episode ended on a cliffhanger with Catherine about to confront her lying sister in a coffee shop.

Once again, BBC viewers were full of praise for the Huddersfield writer and the cast. TV critic Scott Bryan summed it up saying: "Sally Wainwright literally can make someone sitting outside a coffee shop and then going into a coffee shop the most tense five minutes of television all week."

Brad Coulson agreed, saying: "That scene was so good! Genius how she got her stood right behind her almost whilst she sat and lied. Amazing acting from both and fab writing from Sally."

Jane Graham wrote: "Constantly thinking 'please go in, please go in'. I couldn’t have taken the wait if she hadn’t confronted her. I’m glad I’d already eaten, my stomach is far too knotted to digest any more tonight."

Others asked why time went so quickly, with one describing it as the "fastest hour of the week". Mungo said: "Who else looked at the clock at least three times during Happy Valley to pray it wasn’t ending?"

Peter Smith wrote on Twitter: "Even with a warning at the start of the programme, Happy Valley has some shocking scenes. On some of the outside scenes you can almost see Lancashire in the distance. I'm still shaking."

Meanwhile, others have started to speculate about Catherine's ex-husband Richard. Richard has been looking into criminal Darius Knezevic for an investigative article.

Some think his digging might not end well, while others are convinced Richard can't be trusted. Amy Hargitay-Visage said: "I don't have a good feeling Richard is gonna survive this series if he goes poking around that story."

Angela Thompson posted a picture of him, writing: "Am I overthinking this! I just don't trust this guy? red flag!!" Another viewer wrote: "I have a gut feeling, Richard Cawood is bad news." Sunday night's episode coincided with Prince Harry's interview on ITV with many viewers saying they proudly snubbed it in favour of the BBC show.

Happy Valley airs weekly on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The final episode will air on Sunday, February 5.

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