BBC's 'Happy Valley' series’ actors starred together in a 1980s film. See what was it

BBC primetime hit, Happy Valley series is the gold standard of British TV drama, its first season began on BBC One on April 29, 2014 while season 3 premiered on January 1, 2023. It has some of the best actors, spanning across all generations. Sarah Lancashire made her debut in Coronation Street while two other actors began their careers in the 1980s.

George Costigan (Neville) and Siobhan Finneran (Clare) were cast opposite each other in Rita, Sue and Bob Too, a 1987 British comedy-drama film by Alan Clarke. It showed Finneran and co-star Michelle Holmes (Goodnight Sweetheart, Emmerdale, and Coronation Street) as teenagers, who started an affair with the married man (Costigan) they babysit for.

The characters of the movie get into all sorts of scrapes, and there is also a disco scene showing pop party legends of 1980s kids like, Black Lace.


Empire reunited the stars in 2017 after 30 years of the release of the film, which was an honest portrayal of life at that time.

Costigan also spoke to a media outlet in the same year, about the film and its director, Alan Clarke. He said Alan's life was dedicated to working-class culture but never made a comedy film. He wanted to make a film about the working classes with the message, “Look, we’ll laugh through anything.”


Finneran had spoken about the film and starring with Costigan again, she said it was scary 36 years ago but they stayed friends and are thankful to his wife, Julia North, too. It’s good to be in scenes with George again.

As they reunite in Happy Valley, Finneran plays lead the character Clare Cartwright, Catherine's sister, and Costigan is businessman Nevison Gallagher, whose daughter Ann is kidnapped in season one.

FAQs:

1. When was 'Happy Valley' released?
   Happy Valley season 1 began on BBC One on April 29, 2014.
2. How many seasons does it have?
   It has three seasons, the third one released on January 1, 2023.