‘Happy Valley’ Third Series In Doubt After Sarah Lancashire Rules Out Returning To Play Lead Role Of Catherine Cawood

If you were looking forward to a third series of ‘Happy Valley’, we have bad news.

Sarah Lancashire, who plays the lead role of policewoman Catherine Cawood in the hit BBC drama, has ruled herself out of reprising her character for a third outing.

The actress told the Daily Mail that she felt a third series would ‘dilute’ the stories told in the first two, which had up to 7 million of us tuning in.

"It's the end of the story for Happy Valley," she said.

"I wouldn't want it to go to a third series, I really wouldn't - then it becomes something else.

"We set out to tell a story and we told it."

She added: "The temptation is you see something that is great and you think, 'This can run and run and run', but then it becomes a homogenised, diluted thing."

There is glimmer of hope though, as Sarah made her comments whilst filming the second series, so it might just be possible the actress has had a change of heart - particularly after the last run was so well received.

A source added: "There was going to be a long wait before the third series, as there was between series one and two.

"But without Sarah will there be any point? Without her there is no show."

The series finale last week was met with huge acclaim and won over 7 million viewers - the programme's highest ratings ever.

Sarah’s comments contradict reports last week that claimed a third series was definitely being planned.

According to the Sun, the new series would see Sarah’s character continue to deal with the grief for her dead daughter, and work out how she may best protect her grandson Ryan from his psychopathic father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton).

Fingers crossed.