25 January 2023 , 12:02
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James Norton has teased more details about the emotional finale of Happy Valley that will delight fans, but he warns it will defy “all expectations.”
The actor, who plays criminal Tommy on the hit BBC drama, has kept the ending of the long-running show a secret, even from his own family, ahead of it airing on February 5.
To begin with the script for the last episode was only given to lead actress Sarah Lancashire and James, who both loved the “melancholic” end, until gradually it was shared with the wider cast.
He explained: "Everyone I've spoken to who has read it is like 'phew'," he said. "It's just great. It's Sally [Wainwright, writer] letting rip in her wonderful way. Going against expectation, but also giving you what you want. I loved reading it.”
James Norton said the finale is emotional but that he let out a sigh of relief after he read it (BBC/Lookout Point/AMC/Alex Telfer)He added: "There's also a little bit of melancholy tinge there because it's the end of a very significant chapter for everyone."
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While Fans are desperate to know how the story unfolds, but James admitted that he didn’t even tell his own dad the ending, even though who also appears in the series.
"My dad is the worst holder of any secret, so I fiercely kept it away from him, even though they were on set as extras," he explained.
"They come on as extras occasionally and they came to Hebden Bridge with their dog, which was fun. But no, I've kept it pretty close to my chest.
James plays criminal Tommy on the show, and to begin with only he and Sarah Lancashire knew the ending of the series (BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)"Also, I think no-one really wants to know. I've rarely found someone who knows and loves the show, who is keen to hear what happens."
Since the show began in 2014, Happy Valley has won two Baftas for best dramas as its grown year on year in popularity with BBC viewers.
James also reflected on how much his character, Tommy, has evolved throughout the years, as how his relationship with his on-screen son, Ryan, has developed.
He said: "I think people change in seven years, Tommy obviously has a lot of trauma. We've looked a lot into his mental health and what it is that drives him forward.
James said it's been incredible to see how his character has evolved and he hopes fans are happy with where the series ends (BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)“Tommy has moved on and grown and matured, and in some ways has calmed. He has this Jesus complex. He's a new man."
"I've loved every twist and turn of this character," he continued. "There's something troubling about being in a very disturbed mind like Tommy.
"You have to delve a lot into psychopathy and spend time in the headspace of a man who's very mistrustful and quite a sad, angry person.
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"But there's this other side of it where you feel kind of invincible because he doesn't care what people think about him. There's something incredibly empowering about that playing the bad man - intriguing, always playing the kind of subversive dark criminal mind."