The finale of BBC One's crime drama 'Happy Valley' has outperformed a Harry Potter film in the ratings, drawing in millions of viewers. The show, which concluded its third series, saw a significant spike in viewership for its final episode.
In the most recent episode, viewers witnessed the arrest of Sean Balmforth, played by former Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, for four murders. Balmforth maintains his innocence, but his memory blackouts raise questions about his possible guilt.
Lewis, 26, described the role as the biggest challenge of his acting career. 'Sean goes to dark places and makes mistakes after he’s been drinking,' he told the Mirror. 'He can’t escape the ghosts of his past and all these pent-up emotions explode in bursts of fury.'
The actor, best known for playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, acknowledged the stark contrast between the two characters. 'Neville and Sean are widely different. Younger Harry Potter fans may want to wait a few years before watching me in Happy Valley,' he joked.
Since the Harry Potter franchise ended in 2011, Lewis has appeared in several TV shows, including 'The Syndicate', 'Bluestone 42', 'Death In Paradise', and 'Ripper Street', as well as stage productions.
