Happy Valley fans hail ‘phenomenal’ Sarah Lancashire as GOAT after ‘best TV scene ever’

Sarah Lancashire has been praised as ‘absolutely phenomenal’ and hailed her as a ‘GOAT’ – one of the greatest actors of all time – following the latest episode of the BBC drama Happy Valley. Fans of the show have called for Sarah and co-star Siobhan Finneran to win Baftas for their ‘masterclass’ performance in last night’s (January 15) show.

Dramatic scenes saw Sarah’s character Catherine Cawood confront her sister Clare, played by Siobhan, for taking her grandson Ryan (Rhys Connah) to visit his father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) in prison without her knowledge.

Viewers said they were left in tears as Catherine departed the cafe and saw a vision of her late daughter Becky. The cafe scene was hailed by viewers as one of the best bits of TV they have ever seen.

@Graha_Booth said: “The cafe scene was as good as seen in any movie. The tension was unbearable.”

Morgan Jeffery, executive Editor at the Radio Times, said: “Ten minutes of two people talking in a cafe. One of the best scenes in a TV drama in years.”

And Fans of the show took to social media to praise former Coronation Street actress Sarah, 58, and Siobhan, 56, with some hailing Sarah as “one of the best [actresses] of all time”.

Sarah Lancashire has been called phenomenal for her performance in Happy Valley (Image: BBC)

@BeccaPhillipson tweeted: @happyvalleybbc is just incredible! The acting is immense! Sarah and Siobhan are just phenomenal.”

@anliard09 responded: “I agree it is incredible. Loving every minute of it.” @Eiljert insisted: “Good God: #SarahLancashire is absolutely phenomenal in this: it’s like a super power. #HappyValley “

@WelshGasDoc added: “It’s testament to the incredible skill and versatility of Sarah Lancashire that you can watch #HappyValley and totally forget that you’re also watching the person who played Julia Child.”

Fans on Instagram were just as enthusiastic, with Sandra Smith saying: “Just give Sarah Lancashire all the Acting Awards for 2023… no one could come close.” Pauline Hearne enthused: “That was a very tense episode. My heart was racing towards the end, sat on the edge of my sofa stuff . They are so amazing, I just love Sarah Lancashire. Here’s hoping they get an award for outstanding t.v. series.”

Among other social media comments was one that said: “SarahLancashire is absolutely phenomenal in this: it’s like a super power.” Another added: “Every performance of Sarah Lancashire’s is a masterclass. She just something you can’t teach and whatever that is she has it in spades.”

Echoing the sentiment, a fellow viewer wrote: ‘Sarah Lancashire is just a masterclass in acting for camera. Faultless.’ And one more added: “Everything, every nuance, done to perfection.”

@CookPassTime said “Sarah Lancashire might be one of the greatest actors of all time.”

@nerysvevo said: “Sarah Lancashire truly the greatest actress on tv at the moment… the scene tonight in the cafe and then right after… OOF”

And @carlyfarly69 said: “It’s been THE best series this century; Sarah Lancashire is the greatest actress in the UK, she deserves every award she has won or will win in future.”

@glitteringmoss said: “Sarah Lancashire is one of the greatest actors this country has ever produced.”

@gids3 said: “Sarah Lancashire is one of the greatest actresses this country has ever produced – Fact!”

And @ShockSur said her performance could be the greatest TV performance since James Gandolofi in The Sopranos. They said: “Serious question: is Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley the greatest TV performance since James Gandolfini? Or better?”

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