Catherine Cawood is a sergeant in a small town in West Yorkshire, riddled with a drug culture that seems impossible to tackle. Kevin Weatherill is an accountant in a large company run by his late father's best friend, Nevison. When Nevison refuses to pay Kevin's daughter's school fees, which Kevin believes Nevison owes him, Kevin orchestrates a kidnapping plot with local thugs Ashley Cowgill and Tommy Lee Royce against Nevison's daughter, Ann. Only for the whole thing to backfire. Sergeant Catherine Cawood lives with her recovering heroin addict sister and brings up her eight-year-old grandson, Ryan. Whilst visiting Ryan's teacher regarding his behavioural problems, Catherine reveals her daughter was raped by Tommy Lee Royce and so committed sleeping shortly after giving birth to Ryan, leaving Catherine to bring Ryan up alone. The episode ends with a very anxious Kevin entering Catherine's West Yorkshire police station to report the kidnapping. But he changes his mind at the last minute.
Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild.
Happy Valley - Series 1, Episode 1 Synopsis and Schedule