Gentleman Jack is a historical drama television series created by Sally Wainwright. Set in the 1830s in Yorkshire, it stars Suranne Jones as landowner and industrialist Anne Lister. The series is based on the collected diaries of Lister, which contain over four million words and are written largely in secret code, documenting a lifetime of lesbian relationships.
Gentleman Jack is a BBC One and HBO co-production. The series premiered on 22 April 2019 in the United States, and on 19 May 2019 in the United Kingdom. It was renewed by the BBC on 23 May 2019 for a second series, which was shown on BBC One from 10 April to 29 May 2022 and on HBO from 25 April to 13 June 2022. In July 2022, co-production company HBO said it would not be proceeding with a third series. The BBC announced that they wanted to continue with the programme, but they first need to find a production partner to replace HBO.
Overview
In 1832, Miss Anne Lister leaves Hastings brokenhearted and heads to the lush landscape of Halifax, West Yorkshire, England to restore her uncle's estate that she has inherited. While restoring the estate she finds that the family land has a coal mine and that it is being stolen by two brothers. This unusual lady landowner develops a potentially dangerous romance with a woman named Ann Walker, which she records in a cryptic diary.
Cast and characters
Main
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister
Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker, Anne Lister's fiancée, and later, wife. Joe Armstrong as Samuel Washington, land steward for both Ann Walker and Anne Lister Amelia Bullmore as Eliza Priestley, wife of William Priestley Rosie Cavaliero as Elizabeth Cordingley, cook-housekeeper for the Listers and former lady's maid to Anne Lister Gemma Whelan as Marian Lister, Anne Lister's sister Gemma Jones as Aunt Anne Lister Timothy West as Capt. Jeremy Lister, Anne Lister's father Tom Lewis as Thomas Sowden, one of Anne Lister's tenants
Recurring
Stephanie Cole as Aunt Ann Walker
George Costigan as James Holt, who works for Anne Lister and helps with managing her coal business Peter Davison as William Priestley, Ann Walker's cousin and one of the trustees of her entailed estate Shaun Dooley as Jeremiah Rawson, Ann Walker's cousin and Christopher Rawson's brother Vincent Franklin as Christopher Rawson, a magistrate and Ann Walker's cousin Lydia Leonard as Marianna Lawton, Anne Lister's ex-lover with whom she occasionally sleeps Katherine Kelly as Elizabeth Sutherland, Ann Walker's sister who lives in Scotland with her husband and children Derek Riddell as Elizabeth's husband, Captain Sutherland Amy James-Kelly as Suzannah Washington, eldest daughter of Samuel Washington Thomas Howes as John Booth, head gardener for the Listers Albane Courtois as Eugénie Pierre, Anne Lister's femme de chambre or French lady's maid Ben Hunter as Joseph Booth, the Listers' manservant and brother of John Booth Daniel Weyman as Dr Kenny, the local doctor for Ann Walker, Aunt Anne Lister, Capt. Jeremy Lister and Henry Hardcastle John Hollingworth as Mr Abbott, Marian Lister's suitor Saul Marron as James Mackenzie, Ann Walker's manservant
Guest
Anthony Flanagan as Samuel Sowden, Thomas Sowden's alcoholic and violent father, and as Ben Sowden, Samuel Sowden's brother and Thomas's uncle Rupert Vansittart as Charles Lawton, Marianna Lawton's husband Sylvia Syms as Mrs. Rawson, mother of Christopher Rawson and Jeremiah Rawson Brendan Patricks as Reverend Thomas Ainsworth, a man who raped Ann Walker and later proposes to her Jodhi May as Vere Hobart, later Lady Vere Cameron, Anne Lister's former travelling companion and unrequited love Sofie Gråbøl as Queen Marie of Denmark Stephanie Hyam as Sophie Ferrall Julie Agnete Vang as Countess (Emily) Blücher, Sophie's elder sister Joanna Scanlan as Anne Lister's former lover, Isabella "Tib" Norcliffe
Episodes
Series 1 (2019)
Series 2 (2022)