“A Happy Valley replacement”: 7 “hidden gem” Sarah Lancashire dramas to watch on ITV, Netflix, BBC and more

One thing we know about Sarah Lancashire is that she gives absolutely everything to every role she takes on – and you only need to watch one of her TV dramas to see the proof. But while we all know and love her for her performances in Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, we’ve discovered some hidden gem dramas that have probably passed you by – and one is the perfect Happy Valley replacement.

From a “forgotten” detective series to a period drama you’ll want to escape in for hours, we’ve been busy scouring the archives to find Sarah’s best dramas that haven’t got quite as much attention as they should have. So, put your plans on pause for a moment, because these are the 7 hidden-gem Sarah Lancashire dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

Julia

Written by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Daniel Goldfarb, the story of trailblazing chef Julia Child stars Sarah in the titular role and she absolutely nails it. If the name Julia Child isn’t ringing any bells, it was largely thanks to her – and her show, The French Chef - that food TV became a thing. She brought accessible recipes to a wider audience and her passion for cooking was so inspiring that it changed America – and TV as a whole. Only Sarah could do her story justice. Available to watch now on Sky and NOW.

Rose and Maloney

This British detective drama, which first aired on ITV in 2002, sees Sarah and Phil Davis play the titular Rose Linden and Marion Maloney. The pair are investigators – and polar opposites - who work for the Criminal Justice Review Agency, primarily taking on claims of miscarriages of justice. Rose smokes, drinks and breaks every rule going, while Maloney is your typical by-the-book investigator – and yet, somehow, their partnerships just works. The perfect Happy Valley replacement. Available to watch now on Prime Video.

The Accident

We should warn you that the subject of this Channel 4 crime drama is a harrowing one and Sarah’s performance is truly gut-wrenching. The setting is a small Welsh town where a construction project has gone horrifically wrong and Sarah is the wife of local politician, Iwan (Mark Lewis Jones), who had originally championed the project. But when it results in a huge explosion that leaves several children dead, she’s left to deal with the guilt - and the devastating impact on people’s lives. Available to watch now on Channel 4.

The Paradise

If you’re after a bit of escapism, you’ll enjoy The Paradise, which is based on Émile Zola’s 1883 novel Au Bonheur des Dames and set in England's first department store in the 1870s (largely inspired by the original Bon Marché). The story revolves around Denise Lovett (played by Joanna Vanderham), a young girl who starts work as a salesgirl in the shop before becoming romantically entangled with the charismatic owner. But the real attraction is Sarah Lancashire, who pulls off the part of the store’s Head of Ladieswear effortlessly. Available to watch now on U.

MotherFatherSon

This eight-part family drama introduces us to Max Finch (Richard Gere), the millionaire owner of one the world’s most influential media empires. Max is ruthless and unlikeable – even to his own son, Caden (Billy Howle), who stands to inherit his empire. But when Caden has a stroke, the family find themselves in crisis. Richard Gere plays a millionaire mogul like it’s second nature, while Sarah Lancashire proves she’d made an excellent politician. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Black Doves

Created by Joe Barton (Giri/Haji and The Lazarus Project) and set in the high-octane world of spies and assassins, the limelight for this high-octane spy thriller has largely been on Keira Knightley, who plays Helen Webb, the UK Defence Secretary’s wife who's secretly a spy and covertly selling government secrets to a shadowy organisation known as the Black Doves. Every covert spy needs a spymaster, however, and Sarah’s performance leaves us in no doubt of exactly who that is. Expect an addictive thrill ride that’ll entertain you right up until the end credits. Available to watch now on Neflix.

Coronation Street

Long before Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax came along, Sarah made her name playing Raquel Watts in Coronation Street and won over many hearts in the process. Many will remember the barmaid’s short skirts, big hair and her marriage to Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy) well, but it’s well worth rewatching the old classic episodes to see how brilliant Sarah is - and always has been. Available to watch now on ITVX.