Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire risks scolding from BBC for ‘breaching guidelines’
Sarah Lancashire’s new TV advert could be a breach of strict BBC guidelines, according to reports.
The Oldham-born actress has starred in dozens of major projects throughout her career, from Coronation Street to the recent Netflix hit Black Doves.
One of her most beloved roles, however, is that of Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley.
Lancashire, 60, portrayed the police officer in the Bafta-winning drama for three series, but it seems her willingness to maintain the character’s legacy could land her in hot water.
Quite literally, if you will, because the situation involves a recent ad for Yorkshire Tea.
The star of stage and screen features in the brand’s new commercial, mimicking the persona of the fictional cop by playing a no-nonsense security guard.
Lancashire made her debut in the advert as their new campaign launched last week.
The televised ad shows her attempting to solve somewhat of a crime wave at the office—and it’s proven a major hit with viewers.
It begins with a missing packet of biscuits, with Lancashire launching an investigation… before later realising she actually ate them herself.
However, since the security guard character boasts major similarities between Cawood’s own personality, as well as her physicality and tone of voice, Lancashire could be risking a scolding from the Beeb.
The broadcaster has tight guidelines when it comes to third parties portraying their characters, brands, and programmes to prevent their likenesses from being exploited.
As such, a section of the guidelines titled Actors and Artists Replicating Their BBC Roles in Other Output reads: ‘Actors and artists who perform in BBC output should not appear in promotional work, including advertisements, in a way which mimics or replicates their on-air roles for the BBC.’
It therefore seems that the Yorkshire Tea ad is very close to the line, although it is currently unclear whether permission was sought from the BBC prior to filming.
Nevertheless, the campaign has gone down a storm, with viewers taking to X to hail it as ‘amazing’.
Instantly noting the similarity between the security officer and Cawood, Markbiggs58 tweeted: ‘Great advert, just like happy valley’.
Agreeing, heardmanchris2 wrote: ‘Sarah Lancashire is brilliant in the new #YorkshireTea advert.’
User fergwerg1 even declared it the ‘best advert on telly.’
Happy Valley began in 2014 and ended in 2024, with other cast members including James Norton and Siobhan Finneran.
Sophie Rundle, Steve Pemberton, Katherine Kelly, and Amelia Bullmore also made appearances.
The final series of Sally Wainwright’s masterpiece averaged 9.16million viewers, with Cawood’s final kitchen showdown with Tommy Lee (Norton) winning Bafta’s most memorable moment.
The BBC declined to comment.
Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire risks scolding from BBC for ‘breaching guidelines’