BBC drama Gentleman Jack: Everything we know on the series about Halifax's Anne Lister

The anticipation is growing over the BBC drama Gentleman Jack which will tell the story of Halifax's Anne Lister.
A new picture from the series, featuring Suranne Jones in character as the remarkable Regency landowner Anne Lister. Image: BBCA new picture from the series, featuring Suranne Jones in character as the remarkable Regency landowner Anne Lister. Image: BBC
A new picture from the series, featuring Suranne Jones in character as the remarkable Regency landowner Anne Lister. Image: BBC

Here we take a look at what we know about the much anticipated series.

What is the drama about?

The eight-part drama is based on the life of famed Halifax diarist Anne Lister. Written by Sally Wainwright, who also created other Calderdale-set hit shows Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, the eight part series will see Anne try to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall.

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After years of exotic travel, Anne Lister returns to Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832, determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home Shibden Hall.

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Gentleman Jack is a Lookout Point production for BBC One, co-produced with HBO.

Who is starring in the series?

Suranne Jones will play the leading role of Anne Lister.

Katherine Kelly plays Elizabeth Sutherland, the sister of Anne Lister’s intended wife Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), whilst Sofie Gråbøl will appear towards the end of the series as Queen Marie of Denmark.

They join the previously announced extended cast, which includes Gemma Whelan, Timothy West, Gemma Jones, Stephanie Cole, Peter Davison, Amelia Bullmore, Vincent Franklin, Shaun Dooley, Joe Armstrong and Rosie Cavaliero.

Where has filming taken place?

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Shibden Hall in Halifax has been closed for a number of months as for the filming of the drama.

Historic streets near York Minster have also been transformed into 18th-century market scenes for the filming of BBC drama about Halifax's Anne Lister.

Filming on Gentleman Jack draws to a close in the weeks ahead, with the series due to air in 2019.