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Happy Valley writer: I don't have to apologise for show's violence Happy Valley writer: I don't have to apologise for show's violence
(4 days later)
Millions of Happy Valley viewers are on tenterhooks following last week's episode of the hit BBC1 drama, when police sergeant Catherine Cawood was left for dead. After a savage beating by a psychopathic kidnapper, she collapsed in the street, her bloodied face filling the screen as the credits rolled.Millions of Happy Valley viewers are on tenterhooks following last week's episode of the hit BBC1 drama, when police sergeant Catherine Cawood was left for dead. After a savage beating by a psychopathic kidnapper, she collapsed in the street, her bloodied face filling the screen as the credits rolled.
These violent scenes, and similarly strong scenes from earlier in the series, have prompted criticism of the programme's creator-writer, Sally Wainwright, from Mediawatch-UK, which campaigns for more regulation. Some newspapers have also remarked on what they see as gratuitous violence against women. "Did the BBC's brutal Happy Valley go too far?" the Daily Mail asked.These violent scenes, and similarly strong scenes from earlier in the series, have prompted criticism of the programme's creator-writer, Sally Wainwright, from Mediawatch-UK, which campaigns for more regulation. Some newspapers have also remarked on what they see as gratuitous violence against women. "Did the BBC's brutal Happy Valley go too far?" the Daily Mail asked.
In a robust response, Wainwright told the Observer she was "saddened" that the Mail had picked up on the attack on Cawood – played by Bafta-winner Sarah Lancashire – and a previous incident when a young woman police officer was crushed to death and had "tried to make a thing of it, when shows like Game of Thrones have so much gratuitous violence against lots of people".In a robust response, Wainwright told the Observer she was "saddened" that the Mail had picked up on the attack on Cawood – played by Bafta-winner Sarah Lancashire – and a previous incident when a young woman police officer was crushed to death and had "tried to make a thing of it, when shows like Game of Thrones have so much gratuitous violence against lots of people".
Wainwright said: "This is a quality, well-written drama. I think it is childish [of the Daily Mail]. I think it has backfired on them. Judging by the amount of email, texts, tweets I've had, I don't think anyone is asking me to apologise. I'm sorry if some people found it too much. You can always turn the telly off.Wainwright said: "This is a quality, well-written drama. I think it is childish [of the Daily Mail]. I think it has backfired on them. Judging by the amount of email, texts, tweets I've had, I don't think anyone is asking me to apologise. I'm sorry if some people found it too much. You can always turn the telly off.
"I directed and edited last week's episode, the first time I have done so," she said, adding that all the close-up shots and treatment were carefully considered. "It showed what a heroic and responsible human being Catherine is. How she is prepared to put her life on the line in order to save someone else [a kidnapped, raped and drugged woman, Ann].""I directed and edited last week's episode, the first time I have done so," she said, adding that all the close-up shots and treatment were carefully considered. "It showed what a heroic and responsible human being Catherine is. How she is prepared to put her life on the line in order to save someone else [a kidnapped, raped and drugged woman, Ann]."
Cawood finds Ann, 22, the daughter of a local millionaire businessman, imprisoned in a cellar. One of the kidnappers, a psychopathic murderer called Tommy Lee Royce, attacks Cawood, but Ann struggles free in time to knock him out. Wainwright said: "What was particularly uplifting was that Ann, though suffering a terrible ordeal, had the presence of mind to rescue the woman who went to save her. Out of darkness something uplifting and beautiful happened. The Daily Mail have shot themselves in the foot."Cawood finds Ann, 22, the daughter of a local millionaire businessman, imprisoned in a cellar. One of the kidnappers, a psychopathic murderer called Tommy Lee Royce, attacks Cawood, but Ann struggles free in time to knock him out. Wainwright said: "What was particularly uplifting was that Ann, though suffering a terrible ordeal, had the presence of mind to rescue the woman who went to save her. Out of darkness something uplifting and beautiful happened. The Daily Mail have shot themselves in the foot."
And what of the bloodied close-up of Cawood's face that closed the fourth of the series' six episodes? "If you get your head smacked against the wall, you bleed. It's life," said Wainwright. "Drama is about the dark side. How bad things happen to good people. All the women in this are seen to suffer in some way." Cawood is already haunted by the death of her raped daughter Becky, which is the theme of the final episodes.And what of the bloodied close-up of Cawood's face that closed the fourth of the series' six episodes? "If you get your head smacked against the wall, you bleed. It's life," said Wainwright. "Drama is about the dark side. How bad things happen to good people. All the women in this are seen to suffer in some way." Cawood is already haunted by the death of her raped daughter Becky, which is the theme of the final episodes.
Wainwright explained that the brutal death of the young policewoman was all part of the dynamics of the drama, to deliberately change the tempo. "It showed how much of a psychopath he [Tommy] is. It upped the ante hugely – just what is this man is capable of? "I think violence is shocking. If violence on screen was so regular and people barely noticed it, that would be gratuitous. I hate gratuitous violence.Wainwright explained that the brutal death of the young policewoman was all part of the dynamics of the drama, to deliberately change the tempo. "It showed how much of a psychopath he [Tommy] is. It upped the ante hugely – just what is this man is capable of? "I think violence is shocking. If violence on screen was so regular and people barely noticed it, that would be gratuitous. I hate gratuitous violence.
"I used to be a feminist. Then I became a post-feminist. But I do worry about the levels of violence in video games, and how casually they treat women. It is … run of the mill. I don't think we can be complacent." "I used to be a post-feminist. Then I became a feminist. But I do worry about the levels of violence in video games, and how casually they treat women. It is … run of the mill. I don't think we can be complacent."
Wainwright, 50, was born in Huddersfield and brought up in the Halifax and Calder Valley area, where Happy Valley is set, and studied English at York University. She has two sons, and is married to a dealer in antiquarian sheet music. The family home is in Witney, Oxfordshire, David Cameron's constituency.Wainwright, 50, was born in Huddersfield and brought up in the Halifax and Calder Valley area, where Happy Valley is set, and studied English at York University. She has two sons, and is married to a dealer in antiquarian sheet music. The family home is in Witney, Oxfordshire, David Cameron's constituency.
But her creative and emotional roots remain in Yorkshire, and she often goes there alone, or with friends, to research and write. She was inspired to write Happy Valley partly by a hard-hitting documentary about the drugs culture undermining the Hebden Bridge area, which led the police to dub it Happy Valley. "It shocked me: I grew up there and I had no idea. But the drama isn't all about drug addicts," she added, pointing to the good characters, including Cawood's ex husband, journalist Richard.But her creative and emotional roots remain in Yorkshire, and she often goes there alone, or with friends, to research and write. She was inspired to write Happy Valley partly by a hard-hitting documentary about the drugs culture undermining the Hebden Bridge area, which led the police to dub it Happy Valley. "It shocked me: I grew up there and I had no idea. But the drama isn't all about drug addicts," she added, pointing to the good characters, including Cawood's ex husband, journalist Richard.
Wainwright's TV writing career was launched at Coronation Street, after a stint driving the no 37 London bus and 18 months on The Archers. She is an expert in creating strong and arresting roles for women. Her breakthrough hit was At Home with the Braithwaites, starring Amanda Redman, about a larger-than-life mother who wins the lottery. She also had success with Last Tango in Halifax (series three is under way). This created meaty romantic roles for older actors Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi, with Sarah Lancashire playing a high-achieving gay daughter to Reid's character Celia.Wainwright's TV writing career was launched at Coronation Street, after a stint driving the no 37 London bus and 18 months on The Archers. She is an expert in creating strong and arresting roles for women. Her breakthrough hit was At Home with the Braithwaites, starring Amanda Redman, about a larger-than-life mother who wins the lottery. She also had success with Last Tango in Halifax (series three is under way). This created meaty romantic roles for older actors Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi, with Sarah Lancashire playing a high-achieving gay daughter to Reid's character Celia.
Wainwright said she is going through a fantastic period in a, so far, 25-year career, which has had downs as well as ups. Both ITV and the BBC initially turned down Last Tango in Halifax, because of its unfashionable storyline about love between pensioners, until the BBC changed its mind in 2011. A political drama, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, about a novice politician who becomes prime minister, bombed in 2006.Wainwright said she is going through a fantastic period in a, so far, 25-year career, which has had downs as well as ups. Both ITV and the BBC initially turned down Last Tango in Halifax, because of its unfashionable storyline about love between pensioners, until the BBC changed its mind in 2011. A political drama, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, about a novice politician who becomes prime minister, bombed in 2006.
She said of Happy Valley, which is the current top-rated TV drama, with an audience share of 27% and consolidated ratings heading towards eight million: "The show is a phenomenon. I think this is pretty much the zenith of things. I didn't expect it. I hoped it would do well but it has exceeded everything, even Last Tango in Halifax. What's unusual for this drama is that it appeals to men as much as women."She said of Happy Valley, which is the current top-rated TV drama, with an audience share of 27% and consolidated ratings heading towards eight million: "The show is a phenomenon. I think this is pretty much the zenith of things. I didn't expect it. I hoped it would do well but it has exceeded everything, even Last Tango in Halifax. What's unusual for this drama is that it appeals to men as much as women."
She added a teaser about the series' conclusion: "Ann refuses to be a victim of what happened to her, to let it define her – being kidnapped, being raped. She goes on to give an uplifting message."She added a teaser about the series' conclusion: "Ann refuses to be a victim of what happened to her, to let it define her – being kidnapped, being raped. She goes on to give an uplifting message."
Wainwright is in discussions with the BBC about a second series of Happy Valley.Wainwright is in discussions with the BBC about a second series of Happy Valley.