Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire helped inspire drama students at Salford University where she worked as a lecturer.

Lancashire has returned to television screens as Catherine Cawood in the latest season of the popular British crime programme, which is topping the ratings.

She worked as a part-time lecturer at The University of Salford from 1986 to 1990, before moving on to work in a range of roles, including acting, directing and producing.

She was seen in both television programmes and films such as Coronation Street, Rose and Maloney, and Birthday Girl.

Just over a decade after teaching at the University of Salford, as Lancashire’s career success was sky rocketing, the Oldham-born star was brought back to the University in March 2002, to receive an honorary Master of Arts.

Image credit: The University of Salford Archives
The University of Salford honorary article, 2002

The head of Media and Arts at the time, Professor Ron Cook, said: “Sarah has demonstrated she has a range and depth that we frequently don’t see in other television actors.”

Following this, in 2001 Lancashire was awarded TV Drama performer of the year by Television & Radio Industries Club Annual Awards. The year before, Sarah also won TV Quick Awards: Best actress and National Televisions Award: Most popular Actress.

The BBC1 crime drama, Happy Valley began with its first season in 2014 and has continued its success with the release of its third season which began on January 1st 2023 and peaked at 4.2 million viewers. The next episode is set to air on Sunday January 29.

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