Sarah Lancashire reprises Happy Valley role in latest TV appearance

Contender for ad of the year!

Lancashire who grew up in Oldham, first rose to fame playing Raquel in Britain's longest running soap, Coronation Street but has since gone on to star in award winning dramas such as Happy Valley and Last Tango In Halifax.

Happy Valley aired for the last time in 2023 but in a move that surprised fans, Lancashire played a role similar to Sergeant Cawood for Yorkshire Tea's latest advert.

The 60-year-old investigates who ate all the biscuits she quips: "Well, they didn't just walk off on their own," before she proceeds to quiz the staff members.

This is the latest instalment in the ‘Where Everything’s Done Proper’ campaign, which was launched in 2017. 

It's an advert that has captured the attention of the nation as the loveable character returned.

Fans took to TikTok: "Your marketing department need a raise." The company replied: "We've increased their biscuit rations."

Another said: "This is already the ad of the year."

While a third commented: "I'm going to have to rewatch Happy Valley for the tenth time."

Others found it ironic that Lancashire was starring in a Yorkshire tea advert. They said: "That’s absolutely fantastic. My favourite tea is Yorkshire but it’s ironic that you’ve hired Sarah Lancashire for this advert!!"

Lucy Hoyle, senior brand manager at Yorkshire Tea said: "We’re chuffed to bits with our new ad and hope that everyone loves it as much as we do.

"Yorkshire Tea is the home of Where Everything’s Done Proper and just as our advertising has gained momentum over the last seven years, so too has the Nation’s appreciation of a proper Brew.

"And as the UK’s No1 tea brand, we know that people are enjoying our products across the country, from all walks of life and regardless of which side of the Pennines they might hail from!"

Lancashire is just the latest in a long line of famous faces the tea company has hired for their adverts.

The Brownlee Brothers, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Michael Parkinson, Kaiser Chiefs and Sean Bean have all appeared in adverts for the tea brand.