Watch: YorkMix’s Laura lays down the law as a top cop in gripping Happy Valley finale
If you watched the final episode of Happy Valley on BBC One last night (Sunday) you might have seen a familiar face from the YorkMix team.
YorkMix Radio Breakfast Show’s Laura Castle played DC Harding in the gripping finale.
She took a leading role as the officer in charge when police raided the house of crime boss Darius Knezevic‘s henchmen – just as one of them was about to be married.
It was the second appearance in the hit series for Laura, 26.
She first appeared in episode three, being briefed on a suspect captured on CCTV and quipping about what he might have in his bag.
Created by Sally Wainwright, Happy Valley follows the exploits of Halifax police sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire, and villain Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton from Ampleforth.
The show and its cast have earned many awards, including a BAFTA for Best Drama for Series One back in 2014. That was when York-based BBC Look North presenter, Phil Bodmer played himself in a scene in the TV studio.
Speaking about the experience, Laura said: “I go to an acting class every week called Act for TV. We often get offered auditions, or workshops with local casting companies.
“One of them was with Beverley Keogh and Michael Jackson, and they are the casting team for Happy Valley.
“I was given the opportunity to video myself for a role in Happy Valley.
“DC Harding originally just had one line. So I taped myself doing that line, they liked me, they asked me to come and do it for real. And then they asked me back for episode six.
“I got to be the arresting officer for two of the big baddies. And I got to read them their rights, which was lots of fun.
“I found out that they actually recorded three different endings. So I don’t think a lot of the cast who were involved in the ending really knew which one they were going to pick, but I thought it was a really nice way to end it. It was shocking.
“I didn’t quite get to meet Sarah Lancashire which I would have loved to do because she’s one of my idols but yeah, I got to mix with the big guns and got my own trailer which was ace.”