Sarah Lancashire ‘quitting acting’ despite roaring success of Happy Valley

Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire is reportedly set to “quit acting” and embark on a change in career path.

The 59-year old became a household name in the 1990s after landing the role of Raquel Wolstenhulme in Coronation Street. She picked up a number of awards for her portrayal of Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC drama, and received a Special Recognition gong at the 2023 National Television Awards.

Now, it appears the actress has set her sights on moving to the other side of the camera after pondering a move into television production for some time. She even expressed her excitement at establishing her own company earlier this year in Via Pictures.

She explained to Deadline in January: “It’s a small production company, and we’re very much about developing our own ideas and fresh takes on existing ideas.”

Now, according to a source those plans are about to come to fruition. “Sarah adores acting but the idea of producing had been niggling at her,” the insider told the Daily Mail. “She decided, once Happy Valley was over that it was a good time to get it under way. She is so excited.”

The source continued: “It has been so exciting for her that even when she won her outstanding achievement award at the National Television Awards last year, she had to dash home as she was up early the next day, telling everyone she is producing now. She may have found a new passion, Sarah has never loved the limelight anyway.”

After picking up her Special Recognition award last year, Sarah reflected on her career and explained that she had been “exceptionally lucky”. She said: “I have been so very fortunate to spend my working life doing a job that I love, made possible by brilliantly talented people – producers, directors, writers, actors – and I am exceptionally lucky to have enjoyed every moment of it.

“But there are also enablers who stand very quietly in the wings without expectation or due credit, they are my family, my husband, my children, my friends, my agent Nick, thank you.”

Corrie fans have long demanded Sarah return to the soap, but she shut them down in an interview in 2017 in which she said the show she starred in “doesn’t exist” anymore.

The Rovers Return barmaid decided to leave and was written out of the show when she “went abroad” in 1996 .”The show I was in doesn’t exist any more,” she said. “Now do the next question – ‘would you ever go back?’ No.”

Daily Star has approached a representative for Sarah to comment.