Gentleman Jack: inside the real diaries of Anne Lister

New BBC One drama tells the story of Britain’s first modern lesbian

Gentleman Jack
Suranne Jones as Gentleman Jack
(Image credit: BBC)

A new BBC TV drama called Gentleman Jack will tell the story of Britain’s first openly gay woman, Anne Lister.

Born in 1791, Lister lived with a series of female partners and even held an unofficial wedding in a church. Played by Doctor Foster’s Suranne Jones, Lister wrote diaries detailing her relationships and dealings with members of high society.

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