GENTLEMAN JACK: FILMING BEGINS ON SERIES TWO

Filming has begun on the second series of BBC drama Gentleman Jack, with cameras rolling all this week in Halifax. Suranne Jones returns as Anne Lister, with Sophie Rundle reprising her role as Ann Walker.

Series two will again use the real life diaries of Anne Lister - part of which were written in code - as its source, with every part of Lister’s story based in historical fact and the five million words she wrote in her journals.

Joanna Scanlan (No Offence, The Thick Of It) will join as guest cast for series two in the role of Anne Lister’s outrageous former lover Isabella ‘Tib’ Norcliffe.

Together with independent health and safety consultants, in full consultation with industry partners and the local authorities, and in accordance with all current government guidelines on Covid-19, Gentleman Jack’s production team will adhere to comprehensive protocols to ensure that the new series is produced in a safe and responsible manner during this time of global pandemic.

Sally Wainwright says: “I'm more thrilled than I've ever been about anything that we're returning with a new series of Gentleman Jack. We've had such an extraordinary response from so many viewers all over the world about the first series, and I can't wait to show them what we've come up with this time...

“Their excitement for the show has been a joy, and an inspiration. I've been in a little bit of heaven once again spending so much time deep in Anne's diaries as I've written the scripts, and can't wait to see the fabulous, joyous magic and detail that Suranne and Sophie will bring to it all. As ever it's been a real pleasure working with Faith and the super cool team at Lookout Point, and our wonderful supportive teams at the BBC and HBO. I'm so excited and happy for this series, I hope people love it as much as they did the first.”

Suranne Jones says: “I’m so happy to be back in beautiful Yorkshire, back with my favourite team, back with Sophie and this amazing cast and of course I’m so honoured to be returning as Anne Lister. Sally’s scripts are detailed and wonderfully human as ever.”

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “The phenomenal response from BBC One viewers to Gentleman Jack series one was testament to the peerless work of Sally, Suranne and the team. In light of government guidelines allowing for UK film and television production to continue, I’m delighted that cameras are now rolling on the next chapter of Anne Lister’s extraordinary life.”