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Amit Shah says Happy Valley is 'torture' for viewers because it can't be binged

The actor stars as troubled pharmacist Faisal Bhatti in the hit crime drama

Amit Shah plays pharmacist Faisal in the third series of Happy Valley. (BBC)
Amit Shah plays pharmacist Faisal in the third series of Happy Valley. (BBC)

Happy Valley star Amit Shah has said the hit show is like "torture" for viewers because it can't be binged.

The gritty crime drama about police officer Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) and criminal Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) is coming to an end and fans are desperate to see what happens in the finale, which has been kept firmly under wraps.

Tension has been building throughout the gripping series and Shah - who plays pharmacist Faisal Bhatti - praised the BBC for unveiling the episodes week by week instead of all at once.

Read more: Everything we know about the Happy Valley finale

Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, he said: "The show is a bit like torture.

Catherine Cawood is facing a final battle with Tommy Lee Royce. (BBC)
Catherine Cawood is facing a final battle with Tommy Lee Royce. (BBC)

"People get very very stressed when watching it and credit to the BBC, they have done this traditional format of just releasing one episode a week, so you have got a whole week to start talking and debating about what's happening and come up with theories."

"You can't binge it," he added.

The actor, 41, also revealed that he'd had a few doubts about signing up for the part at first.

"When I first read it I resisted going in for the audition," Shah told host Lorraine Kelly.

"I was terrified.

"I didn't want to do the accent, I was terrified about how complicated this character was and the size of the show."

The actor said that he hadn't watched the series at that point so his agent told him to go home and watch an episode.

Tommy Lee Royce is on a lethal mission. (BBC)
James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce. (BBC)

"Twelve hours and I had binged one and two," he said.

Read more: How will Happy Valley end? All the fan theories

Happy Valley's finale is set to air on Sunday (5 February) at 9pm on BBC One.

Watch: Happy Valley releases trailer for explosive last battle between Catherine and Tommy