BBC period drama is ‘outstanding gem’ and ‘better than Downtown Abbey’

Sally Wainwright’s critically acclaimed period drama starring Suranne Jones as real-life 19th-century English landowner has been praised as ‘one of the most original shows on TV’

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Suranne Jones and Stephanie Hyam in Gentleman Jack(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/HBO/James Stack)

Fans of period dramas such as Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age are set for a genuine delight as there’s an underappreciated, lesser-known treasure just waiting to be unearthed and binged.

Characterised as “sensual”, “playful”, and “brilliant”, the programme invites regular comparisons to Downton Abbey – but with substantially more heat. What’s more, it’s inspired by a real person.

Gentleman Jack is a British historical drama created for television by the exceptionally gifted Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Scott and Bailey), and represents a co-production between BBC One and HBO.

It premiered on UK television in 2019, with a second series arriving in 2022. However, that same year HBO confirmed they would not be ordering a third series, while the BBC suggested that although they were eager to proceed with a third season, they would need to secure completely new production partners to bring it to fruition.

Leading the show is the remarkable Suranne Jones alongside the talented Sophie Rundle, with both actresses – Jones in particular – receiving widespread praise for their exceptional performances throughout the series.

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The little-known show boasts an incredible rating(Image: BBC)

They are joined by Joe Armstrong, Amelia Bullmore, Rosie Cavaliero, Gemma Jones, Gemma Whelan, and Timothy West, forming what is an exceptionally accomplished ensemble cast.

Both series can be streamed free of charge on BBC iPlayer, and the programme’s official synopsis reads: “It’s 1832 in West Yorkshire, England – the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution – where landowner Anne Lister is determined to save her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall, even if it means bucking society’s expectations. In addition to reopening the coal mines, a part of Lister’s plan to help her family is to marry well.

“But the charismatic, single-minded Lister – who dresses head-to-toe in black and charms her way into high society — has no intention of marrying a man. Gentleman Jack examines Lister’s relationships with her family, servants, tenants and industrial rivals, and would-be wife.

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The BBC period drama has been described as “sensual, fun, and brilliant”(Image: BBC screengrab)

The real-life Anne Lister’s story was recorded in her diaries, and the most intimate details of her life are revealed for the series.”

With a stellar 92% average score across both seasons on Rotten Tomatoes, Gentleman Jack has garnered considerable praise, with one reviewer noting: “Lively, tongue-in-cheek at times and enormously playful, Gentleman Jack is an utter gem of British drama. You can’t take your eyes off the central character, and you’re drawn into her world and her heart with exquisite ease.”

While another critic characterised the show as “exuberant, it’s fun, it’s playful. It just makes you feel good”, a third commentator called it “[A] buoyant, utterly seductive drama.” Another full of admiration reviewer commented on the stirring period drama: “Gentleman Jack is disrupting the conventions of one of our most fiercely loved dramatic forms, at a time when we most need them disrupted. It is a masterpiece.”

While one critic noted: “Representative, daring, cerebral, and romantic, GENTLEMAN JACK remains one of the most original and refreshing series on television. Suranne Jones once again knocks it out of the park, balancing a complex character’s strength and vulnerability.”

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Suranne Jones stars alongside Sophie Rundle as the series’ lead pair(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/Jay Brooks)

The praise doesn’t stop there, with one critic portraying the show as “a rare and genuine treat”, going on to say, “It’s a full-blooded, full-bodied period piece with a vibrant and authentic inner life that is fully relatable yet true to its own time.”

Audience verdicts for Gentleman Jack are equally flattering, with one IMDB user saying: “Enjoying every minute of this outstanding series. I rarely give a 10 star rating but this one captures a top rating from me. Highly worth your time.”

Another fan said on IMDB: “There are no words that can describe my excitement and anticipation for each episode, love for the entirety of this show, and how much I absolutely adore Surranne Jones’s character, Anne Lister.

“Her ability to embody such a emboldened, sexy, masculine female, with beautiful feminine undertones leaves me in a giddy stupor.”

Meanwhile, one audience review on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Everything about this show is absolutely brilliant. I re-watched the entire first season before starting in on the second and thoroughly re-enjoyed it. Surrane Jones performance is intoxicating and in fact every role has been cast with the perfect actor for the part.

“The production values are as good as anything I’ve seen and I’ve seen many, many period shows in my time. Sally Wainwright’s writing, as with all her shows, is just the best.”

While one viewer described it as the “best show that ever is or was. Suranne Jones and Sally Wainwright nailed it,” another simply stated, “Best show. Period. Better does simply not exist.”

One fan added: “This show is an absolute delight. It’s a fascinating look into history through the true diaries if a woman who dared to live as she desired. There is so much to enjoy from a tv show, drama, love, humour, beauty and it’s historical. I am very disappointed that HBO has cancelled Season 3.”

SOURCE: liverpoolecho