Happy Valley villain James Norton says you will feel sorry for his evil character

(Image credit: BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall)

Happy Valley villain James Norton predicts viewers could feel sorry for his psychopathic character this series.

The actor, who recently starred in War And Peace, plays murderer Tommy Lee Royce.

But although he’s behind bars James says bosses have made him like “a vulnerable little boy”.

James, 30, said in The Mirror: “A psychopath like that needs to be in control. Either he would go down the vulnerable route, be a fatalist and just give up or remain in control.

“We decided in prison he would get fit and shave his head and basically become another monster.

"He’s pretty bad but he’s so much more than the classic one-dimensional baddie.

“Sally [Wainwright], the writer, brings out this depth and all these layers of this vulnerable little boy which was such an exciting thing to play with as an actor – to flip people’s preconceptions about the villain.”

Happy Valley continues on BBC1, Tuesday, February 16, 9.00pm