Happy Valley star Rhys Connah reveals why he was the ‘coolest kid in school’ thanks to the show

Happy Valley star Rhys Connah has reflected on his time on the hit show, after growing up on screen. 

The actor, 16, said that he used to be the ‘coolest kid in school’ thanks to being able to swear on set while filming scenes. 

He first started on the show at the age of eight and has played character Ryan in all three seasons of the BBC drama. 

Speaking to the BBC, he said: ‘I was the coolest kid in school because I got to walk in like, ”Guess what, I got to swear and no-one could shout at me, no-one could say anything.” I got to swear loads all day.’

Looking back at his earlier scenes, he called himself ‘annoying’ on screen. 

‘But watching it now, I’m just some tiny, little, annoying guy who does everything wrong, messes it all up and with a squeaky voice. I’m just watching it like ”was I always that annoying?”

In the show, he plays Ryan, the son of villain Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton. 

Happy Valley fans were left in shock as Tommy Lee Royce set himself on fire after an epic showdown with Sgt Catherine Cawood during the final ever episode.

After he escaped court and broke into Catherine’s house in a bid to kill her, Tommy (James Norton) lay in wait until the officer returned home.

And fans were left screaming ‘oh my f**king God’ as the villain attempted to end his own life after telling Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) that he forgave her for keeping the news he had a son from him.

The two characters had a tense confrontation as they came face-to-face for the final time, with Tommy realising he’d reached the end of the road when he’d come to the conclusion his son Ryan was happier living with her.

As things came to a head, the escaped convict realised he had nowhere left to turn and set himself alight – before Catherine rushed to put out the flames with a blanket.

However, instead of watching him burn, Catherine covered him in a blanket and put out the flames shortly before the police arrived – before it was later revealed that Tommy was alive and in hospital. 

He grew up on screen! He first started on the show at the age of eight and has played character Ryan in all three seasons of the BBC drama

Speaking to the BBC , he said: ‘I was the coolest kid in school because I got to walk in like, ”Guess what, I got to swear and no-one could shout at me, no-one could say anything.” I got to swear loads all day’

Shock: Happy Valley fans were left in shock as Tommy Lee Royce set himself on fire after an epic showdown with Sgt Catherine Cawood during the final ever episode on Sunday

Taking to Twitter, fans were quick to share their reaction to the nerve-wracking climax to Catherine and Tommy’s feud.

‘OH MY F**KING GOD’ shouted one watcher, with another remarking: ‘Well, I bet NOBODY expected that!’

‘I’m wrecked’, commented a third, with a fourth observing: ‘Funking he’ll, he set himself alight.’

‘Jesus that was intense!’ commented a fifth watcher.

‘Don’t think anyone had THAT on their #HappyValleyFinale bingo card Good jaysus’ shared another.

Target: After he escaped court and broke into Catherine’s house in a bid to kill her, Tommy (James Norton) lay in wait until the officer returned home