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We’re not surprised the ‘this son of York’ from William Shakespeare was Richard III an actual Ee By Gum Yorkshireman.

Only researchers, who somebody clearly thought deserved the time and the money, have claimed to have unravelled the mystery.

Through his skull shape and speech patterns of the time.

And I would defy anyone, AI or not, to replicate my voice in 500 years’ time based on that evidence.

Richard’s car park

Of course what this does is bring eyeballs to the King Richard III Museum on the site of the Greyfriars Friary in Leicester in England.

A drive-by city in a region, the English Midlands most rarely visit on their journey south to London.

The English Midlands though are a treasure trove for historians from its west.

And Stratford-upon-Avon, home of Shakespeare with its Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.

Through the canals of Birmingham and a host of such mini-vacations on the water.

To the east and Robin Hood in Nottingham Castle, Derby and its Peaks for trekking and Burton for its beers.

To a car park in Leicester where ten years ago the King Richard III Visitor Centre was opened to mark the identification of his body.

Bosworth field of dreams

The official explanation was that he fell here at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Possibly exhorting ‘A horse, a horse, my kingdom, for a horse.’

Though it very well might have been ‘a parking space, a parking space’.

The King Richard story has been a Godsend for Leicester putting it on the tourist map.

With thousands having passed through the centre in the last ten years since it opened.

Of course, you’ll be able to dive into the mysteries of Richard’s life in this award-winning interactive experience.

Tower mysteries

Explore the various conspiracy theories around the Princes in the Tower, his two nephews who vanished into thin air.

And let your mind wander and imagine a hump-back warrior shouting at the skies on the battlefield…

Calling a spade a bloody shovel and ranting about God’s Own Country.

Mystery solved… it’s Richard III an actual Ee By Gum Yorkshireman.

They’d not understand you at the Hong Kong races or your Chinese takeaway but for the day that’s in it we’re all channeling our best Yorkshire… so ey up Happy Valley.

Copper Catherine, her needy sister Clare, psycho Tommy Lee and rootless Ryan have given us all our best water cooler moments these past weeks.

Menacing: James Norton, who plays Tommy Lee

That is if any of us still worked in an office.

Though the upside is we can skive off to watch blockbuster TV series like Happy Valley.

Hebden Bridge the real star

Lancashire hot pot: Sarah Lancashire, who plays Catherine

The uncredited star of the show is, of course, the setting.

With Hebden Bridge forcing its way into our consciousness.

Hebden Bridge is North England, Yorkshire to be exact, which locals, my father-in-law call God’s Own Country.

A market town at the confluence of the River Calder and the Calder Water… hence the valley in which the quaint olde houses lie.

Happy Valley has been a gift to the people of Hebden Bridge with TV tourists now flowing into town.

With even an itinerary now set out of locations from the show.

Lesbian Bridge

TV cop and film hotspots is of course, a tried trusted tool which we follow too on our travels.

And we’re happy to add Catherine’s travails to our list.

What they don’t tell you though is the hidden Hebden Bridge.

That it is credited with being the lesbian capital of the UK.

With the BBC no less flagging up its credentials.

‘The lesbian dining company business card in the foyer of a bar, the same-sex greetings cards in the shop window.

‘And the more obvious clues in the names of some of the businesses, such as the homeware shop, Home…Oh!’

The perfect furnish

Its place on the map of gay culture stems we’re told from the bohemians who moved in as HB transitioned from a mill town to an arts and crafts hub.

So where to stay in Hebden Bridge… well, we’re reliably informed that there are a number of cosy pubs, B&Bs, family hotels and hilltop retreats.

The central Hebden Royd House caught our eye, probably because it sounds like it’s got to have a link to Happy Valley.

Owner Sue, who we’re told used to run a popular soft-furnishings shop in the town presents the hotel as a tasteful six or seven-room property and will provide rates.

She will recommend too the best shopping and eating out in the town.

Poetry in motion

The 18th-century Stubbing Wharf located along the Rochdale Canal will certainly pique the interest of anyone of an artistic bent.

As the former Poet Laureate set his poem Stubbing Wharfe here.

While if you want to get out into the countryside then there are dozens of gorgeous trails on your doorstep too, including the Calder and Pennine Ways.

Although maybe give Tommy Lee Royce right of way if he comes up on your rear wheel.

And so like all the best TV series we have to say goodbye to our favourite characters eventually, we can say hello to Hebden Bridge.

Or as they say in these parts Ey Up Happy Valley.