As Happy Valley comes to a chilling end, will there be a third series?

But while some loose ends were tied up, writer Sally Wainwright left some things open-ended for a third series of the gritty police drama, filmed and set here in Calderdale.

While another series has not been confirmed by the BBC, a source told a national newspaper that there were “lots of exciting plans” for the drama to continue.

Sally has said she is on board to write a third series of the show when she has time to dedicate to the perfect plot.

Wainwright told BBC Breakfast: “I’m so busy with other projects at the moment, I haven’t got time to sit down and come up with stories.

“What I’d hate to do is do a third series and people say it wasn’t as good so I want time to go away and really come up with stories that I think are going to make a third series.”

Last night, intense scenes played out as Catherine confronted a delusional Frances, who could not see that she had been groomed and played by the psychotic Tommy Lee Royce.

Meanwhile, John’s torment over the murder of Vicky Fleming led him to desperate measures, as pieces of the jigsaw came together and the net began to close in on him.

As Catherine tried to talk the disgraced DI down from a bridge, we saw fantastic acting from Kevin Doyle and Sarah Lancashire, as the real, human side of the characters came to the fore.

The series came to a cracking end when a letter from Ryan landed with Tommy, a stark reminder that he had managed to manipulate his son despite being in prison.

And with a closing shot of Ryan, an innocent child, running through a field with his family, viewers were left wondering what surprises a third series might bring.

What did you think of last night’s episode?