'Perfect' BBC period drama based on true story leaves fans begging for more

Period drama lovers have been raving about this beloved BBC television series which has left fans begging for more. Gentleman Jack, which is free to stream on BBC iPlayer, is set in the 1830s in the heart of Yorkshire and follows the life of lesbian landowner and industrialist Anne Lister (played by Suranne Jones) and landowner Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle). The beloved BBC series, created by Sally Wainwright, is based on the true story of Anne Lister and her collected diaries documenting her life filled with lesbian relationships.

The series follows Miss Lister after she leaves Hastings with a broken heart and returns to the Shibden Hall estate, which she inherited from her late uncle, in the lush landscape of Halifax, West Yorkshire. While restoring the expansive estate, she discovers that her neighbours - the Rawson brothers - are stealing coal from the beds beneath her land.

It's at this point that she embarks on a plan to reopen the estate's own long-closed mine out of revenge. At the same time, she starts to develop a potentially dangerous romance with Miss Ann Walker, the wealthy owner of Crow Nest estate, all of which she records in a cryptic diary.

The author wrote an estimated five million words in her diaries, with about a sixth written in a secret code. Helena Whitbread began decoding and transcribing the diaries in the 1980s.

The series was filmed across Yorkshire and its surrounding areas, including the real Shibden Hall, which posed as Anne Lister's home, and Sutton Park, which posed as Anne Walker's property.

The final scenes of the first series were shot in Goodramgate and Precentor's Court in York, but think wasn't the only location they filmed in York.

Producers also shot in Duncombe Place, Minister Yard, and Holy Trinity Church. In the second series, several scenes were shot at one of the historic mines in the Shibden Valley near the Bare Head Tunnel.

The series premiered in April, 2019 in the United States and travelled across the pond one month later on the BBC. The series was quickly renewed for a second series which returned to the airwaves one year later for a final series.

The TV series was soon lauded with praise by fans and critics alike, with the TV show boasting an impressive 92% score on the popular critics site Rotten Tomatoes.

The Hollywood Reporter described Gentleman Jack as a "funny, smart, and touching story" which at times has the main character share her inner thoughts with the camera, allowing aspects of Lister's diary to be used.

The Guardian's review gushed: "Suranne Jones rocks Halifax as the first modern lesbian... Anne Lister's diary becomes a thrilling coal-town romp that flirts with parody, so maybe it's Queer Bronte."

Variety pointed out the drama's uniqueness, adding: "Wainwright makes an intriguing choice that sets up a decidedly adult romance about devotion, trust and partnership that is rare for TV in general, let alone for lesbian characters in a period piece."

Elsewhere, fans flooded to IMDb to share their love for the show online. One user penned: "Just about perfect. Everything is awesome - characters, dialogue, story, clothes, especially the music, and the scenery. I wish more shows were this good. It has held my attention from the very first minute. Thank you HBO and BBC."

Another gushed: "Gentleman Jack is by far one of the best offerings on HBO and BBC in a while. It is lush in setting, historically appropriate to the era, and consistently presents glorious attention to detail!"

A third awarded it 10/10, adding: "Gentleman Jack has superb casting overall, however, Suranne Jones is in a league of her own as always. Why is she not up there, among the great Hollywood stars? Put her in a drama next to anyone and Suranne will overshine anyone. Best actor ever!"