Happy Valley star shares update on spinoff rumours

rhys connah, happy valley season 3
Happy Valley star shares update on spinoff rumoursBBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire

Happy Valley star Rhys Connah has provided an update on rumours of a proposed spinoff to the BBC series.

The crime drama returned to the screen earlier this year with its third and final series, though there have been rumours that either a follow-up or a spinoff could be in the works.

Speaking at the National Television Awards earlier this week, Connah offered a disappointing update to fans, insisting that creator Sally Wainwright was done with the series.

rhys connah, happy valley season 3
BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire

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“It's not happening,” began Connah (via RadioTimes), who played Ryan on the show. “I'm sorry to say it, it's not. They've written the three seasons which they wanted to make and the story's finished.

“Even if I'd enjoy filming it, it's not what would be best for the story, so that's it. Three seasons, you know,” he added.

Though Connah confirmed that Wainwright currently had no plans to revisit the story of the Cawood family, the actor previously stated that he would jump at the chance to reprise his role if the opportunity arose.

“If Sally asked me to do pretty much any role again, I would be completely up for it,” he said. “If in seven years Sally came to me and said: 'Do you want to play Ryan seven years on, when he's a police officer?' I would absolutely do that in a heartbeat.”

rhys connah, happy valley season 3
BBC

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Whilst Happy Valley is now seemingly done and dusted, Wainwright will begin work on Hot Flush, a new series she has written for the BBC. The series, which Wainwright will also produce, will follow “five women of a certain age who come together to create a makeshift, butt-of-the-joke punk-rock band in order to enter a talent contest.”

“I've been wanting to write a series like this for a long time,” Wainwright said of Hot Flush. “It's a celebration of women of a certain age, and all the life-stuff they suddenly find themselves negotiating/dealing with.”

Happy Valley series' 1-3 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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