The final episode of BBC One’s Happy Valley attracted a consolidated audience of 7.8 million viewers, the corporation announced today.
The consolidated average of 7.8 million viewers is up some 1.6million viewers and 26% on the finale’s overnight average of 6.2 million viewers. The first season finale also ranks the highest rated episode of the series’ six episode run, with Happy Valley becoming one of the BBC’s highest rated dramas of 2014.
The strong finale figures have led to an average consolidated audience of 7.2 million viewers for the show’s first season. The BBC also said that they had logged some 8.1 million iPlayer requests for Happy Valley. As one of the BBC’s highest rated dramas, the series is expected to return for a second run, though that has yet to be confirmed by the BBC.
“Sally Wainwright’s sensational series has gripped the nation for the last 6 weeks”, said BBC One Controller Charlotte Moore. “Visceral, emotional and provocative from beginning to end it’s been fantastic to see our audience on tenterhooks, begging for more. The series is testimony to the creative ambition, quality and breadth of original British drama on BBC One.”
