Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire sets up her own TV production company with husband ahead of long-awaited show finale

HAPPY Valley star Sarah Lancashire has set up her own TV production company — ahead of tomorrow night's highly anticipated BBC1 finale.

The actress, 58, and 66-year- old TV executive husband Peter Salmon filed paperwork last month to create Via Pictures to develop their own shows.

Oldham-born Sarah, who plays tough officer Sgt Catherine Cawood on the gritty crime drama, recently stepped into the role of producer for the third series.

A TV insider said: “Happy Valley has gripped the nation over the past few weeks and Sarah is one of the most talented and popular actresses in the country.

“She is going to be in huge demand, but it’s important to remember she has also had a lot of creative say behind the scenes on the plot and the way Happy Valley was filmed.

“Sarah’s husband, Peter, is one of the most respected and well-liked TV executives in the industry.

“By setting up a company together they are going to not only be in big demand, but also hugely successful.”

Sarah and Peter, whose past credits include Big Brother MasterChef, and Broadchurch, have a 19-year-old son, Joseph, and live in a £3million house in South West London.

She is believed to have amassed a fortune of £10million thanks to roles in ITV soap Coronation Street, BBC’s Clocking Off and ITV’s Where The Heart Is.

Speaking last month, Happy Valley executive producer Will Johnston said: “Sarah Lancashire, who’s an executive producer on this series, has a very big voice actually in how we conclude Catherine’s story and so she should.

“She’s incredibly meticulous, trusting and interested.”

Happy Valley series three concludes tomorrow night at 9pm.