First images of Happy Valley season three released by BBC

The BBC has given viewers their first look at the third season of Happy Valley ahead of its highly-anticipated release.

Fans were delighted when it was announced last year that the drama, created by Sally Wainwright, would be returning for a third and final season, with Sarah Lancashire reprising her role of Sergeant Catherine Cawood for the last time.

And this week, new images have shown what fans can expect from the upcoming six-part season.

Catherine is pictured with a bloodied nose in the aftermath of a police raid, while the notorious Tommy Lee Royce – played by James Norton – is seen sporting a radically different look in his prison cell.

BBC

BBC

The broadcaster also gave first-look glimpses of Catherine’s sister Clare (Siobhan Finneran) and teenage grandson Ryan (Rhys Connah).

The third season will see Catherine discover the remains of a gangland murder victim, which sparks a chain of events that unwittingly leads her straight back to Tommy Lee Royce, Ryan’s biological father and the man responsible for her daughter’s suicide.

Read More: Filming for Happy Valley season three has begun with Sarah Lancashire spotted on set

Her grandson Ryan is now sixteen, and has ideas of his own about what kind of relationship he wants to have with the man Catherine refuses to acknowledge as his father.

Still battling the seemingly never-ending problem of drugs in the valley and those who supply them, Catherine is on the cusp of retirement.

BBC

BBC

It was clear at the end of the second season – released in 2016 – that Catherine was worried Ryan may have too much of his father in him, and season three is set to explore the pair’s relationship.

The BBC has also announced who will be joining the cast for the BAFTA-winning six-part drama, including familiar faces Ishia Bennison as Joyce, Shane Zaza as Shafiq, Chord Melodic as Sledge, and Mete Dursun as Gorkem.

There will be some new faces for the third instalment too, specifically The Rising’s Oliver Huntingdon, Sex Education’s Jack Bandeira, God’s Own Country’s Alec Secareanu and Gentleman Jack’s Anthony Flanagan.

A release date for Happy Valley season three is yet to be announced, though updates are expected in the coming months.