A BBC One police drama embraced by TV critics will return to the small screen this evening.

Happy Valley, which stars Sarah Lancashire and was partly filmed in Armitage Bridge's North Light Studios continues tonight at 9pm.

More than six million people watched the gripping first episode last week, which was praised by critics for its suspenseful storyline and rich characters.

It was written by Sarah Wainwright,  famous for Last Tango in Halifax and Scott and Bailey, also filmed locally, and also features Steve Pemberton.

Steve Pemberton as Colin in Happy Valley
Steve Pemberton as Colin in Happy Valley

The drama, centred around the kidnapping of the daughter of a local businessman, has drawn comparisons to Fargo, the 1996 film recently made into a Channel Four series starring Martin Freeman.

In the first episiode, viewers were introduced to Detective Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire), who introduced herself with a matter-of-fact line: "I'm Catherine by the way. I'm 47, I'm divorced. I live with me sister who's a recovering heroin addict. I've two grown-up children, one dead, one who doesn't speak to me and a grandson, so…"

Tonight's episode promises more nail-biting tension and bleak scenes as Catherine's search for the sinister Tommy Lee Royce gains momentum.

Meanwhile, Nevison is owrried about how his seriously ill wife Helen will handle the news of their daughter Ann's kidnapping.

Shot from Happy Valley shows George Costigan as Nevison
Shot from Happy Valley shows George Costigan as Nevison

Here's what the critics made of Happy Valley's debut episode:

Julia Raeside, for the Guardian , wrote: "Alanis Morissette would love it because no one in Happy Valley is happy."

"What begins as a melding of Last Tango and Scott & Bailey turns fully Fargo as we meet Steve Pemberton's disappointed accountant Kevin Weatherill."

Gerard O'Donovan, for the Telegraph , said: "Sally Wainwright proved yet again that she has a rare talent for creating fictional characters who live and breathe and draw us wholly into their lives."

"By the end of this first of six episodes, the tension had built to a point that guaranteed a nail-bitten return to the sofa for next week’s episode."

Claudia Connell for the Daily Mail wrote: "Set in a grim, drug-riddled West Yorkshire town, Happy Valley did a good job in showing how decent people under pressure get pushed to the edge and make bad decisions."

"It feels as though six episodes may be a little ambitious and could lead to a loss of momentum but, so far, I’m hooked."

Gerard Gilbert for the Independent said: "I really didn't expect to be writing this, but I think I actually prefer Happy Valley to Fargo. At least it's first-hand."

Who needs Hollywood when you've got Huddersfield? Take a look at our gallery for more TV hits filmed in our back yard

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