HBO/BBC DRAMA SERIES "GENTLEMAN JACK," CREATED, WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT, DEBUTS APRIL 22 ON HBO

The HBO/BBC drama series GENTLEMAN JACK begins its eight-episode season MONDAY, APRIL 22 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO. Created, written and co-directed by Sally Wainwright ("Happy Valley," "Last Tango in Halifax"), and starring BAFTA Award winner Suranne Jones ("Doctor Foster," "Save Me"), GENTLEMAN JACK tells the story of a woman who had a passion for life and a mind for business, and bucked society's expectations at every turn.

The series will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms. GENTLEMAN JACK will air in the UK on BBC One this spring.

Set in the complex, changing world of 1832 Halifax, West Yorkshire - the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution - GENTLEMAN JACK focuses on landowner Anne Lister, who is determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall, by reopening the coal mines and marrying well. The charismatic, single-minded, swashbuckling Lister - who dresses head-to-toe in black and charms her way into high society - has no intention of marrying a man.

The story examines Lister's relationships with her family, servants, tenants and industrial rivals and, most importantly, would-be wife. Based in historical fact, the real-life Anne Lister's story was recorded in the four million words of her diaries, and the most intimate details of her life, once hidden in a secret code, have been decoded and revealed for the series.

GENTLEMAN JACK co-stars: Sophie Rundle ("Bodyguard," "Peaky Blinders") as Ann Walker, the wealthy heiress on whom Anne Lister sets her sights as a prospective wife; Gemma Whelan (HBO's "Game of Thrones"; "The Moorside") as Anne Lister's sister, Marian; Timothy West ("Last Tango in Halifax," "Bleak House") as Jeremy Lister, the sisters' father; and Gemma Jones ("God's Own Country," "Bridget Jones's Diary") as Aunt Anne Lister.

The additional cast includes: Katherine Kelly ("Happy Valley," CINEMAX's "Strike Back") as Elizabeth Sutherland, Ann Walker's sister; Sofie Gr�b�l ("The Killing," "Fortitude") as Queen Marie of Denmark; Stephanie Cole ("Waiting for God," "Still Open All Hours") as Ann Walker's aunt; Peter Davison ("Liar," "Doctor Who") as William Priestley, Ann Walker's cousin; Amelia Bullmore ("Happy Valley," "Scott & Bailey") as Eliza Priestley, William Priestley's wife; Vincent Franklin ("Cucumber," "Happy Valley") as Christopher Rawson, a businessman and fierce rival to Anne Lister; Shaun Dooley ("Gunpowder," "Broadchurch") as Jeremiah, Christopher's brother and business partner; Joe Armstrong ("Darkest Hour," "Happy Valley") as Samuel Washington; Jodhi May ("Genius," "The Amazing Mrs Pritchard") as Vere Hobart; Rosie Cavaliero ("Hold the Sunset," "Unforgotten") as Elizabeth Cordingley; Thomas Howes ("Downton Abbey," "United") as John Booth; Jessica Baglow ("Waterloo Road") as Rachael Hemingway; and newcomers Albane Courtois as Eugénie Pierre and Ben Hunter as Joseph Booth.

Episodes include:

Episode 1: "I was just passing"

Debut date: MONDAY, APRIL 22 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Halifax, 1832. Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) returns to Shibden Hall, having discovered that her would-be companion, the aristocratic Vere Hobart (Jodhi May), has accepted a marriage proposal from a man. Despite her affection for her elderly aunt (Gemma Jones), Lister is frustrated by the shabbiness of her ancestral home and finds her father (Timothy West) and long-suffering sister (Gemma Whelan) difficult to live with. When Lister discovers that her land is rich in coal, her plans to transform the estate soon provide a welcome distraction. On the neighboring estate, shy heiress Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) is quietly delighted to hear that the charismatic Anne Lister is back. Meanwhile, a hit-and-run accident on Shibden land puts a child's life at risk, and Lister's new French maid, Eugénie (Albane Courtois), finds herself in trouble.

Written by Sally Wainwright; directed by Sally Wainwright.

Episode 2: "I just went there to study anatomy"

Debut date: MONDAY, APRIL 29 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Lister (Suranne Jones) begins a playful but dangerous courtship of Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), who quickly finds herself captivated by the attentions of her neighbor. Lister's plan to excavate her coal mines brings her into the path of local magistrate Christopher Rawson (Vincent Franklin) and his brother Jeremiah (Shaun Dooley). While Ann Walker prepares for a trip to the Lake District, her cousin's (Peter Davison) reaction to her budding friendship leads her to realize that Lister is not popular with everyone in the community. Back at Shibden, Lister's servant, John Booth (Thomas Howes), offers a solution to Eugénie's (Albane Courtois) problem. Meanwhile, Lister wonders if confronting the past could be the key to finding future happiness.

Written by Sally Wainwright; directed by Sally Wainwright.

Episode 3: "Oh is that what you call it?"

Debut date: MONDAY, MAY 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Lister (Suranne Jones) confides her hopes for a future with Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) to her aunt (Gemma Jones), as Ann's neighbor, Mrs. Priestley (Amelia Bullmore), has an inkling about the two women's relationship that presents a threat. Meanwhile, John Booth (Thomas Howes) is surprised at his own romantic success. The Rawson brothers (Vincent Franklin, Shaun Dooley) step up their attempts to out-maneuver Lister in the coal business. Marian (Gemma Whelan) grows annoyed that her sister is treating Shibden like a hotel. The mouthy behavior of Lister's tenant, Sam Sowden (Anthony Flanagan), causes problems for his son Thomas (Tom Lewis).

Written by Sally Wainwright; directed by Sarah Harding.

Episode 4: "Most women are dull and stupid"

Debut date: MONDAY, MAY 13 (10:05-11:05 p.m.)

During a visit to York, Lister (Suranne Jones) is delighted when Doctor Belcombe confirms that she is the perfect tonic for Ann Walker's (Sophie Rundle) nervous disorder. When news of a friend's death arrives, Ann's desperate reaction makes Lister suspect that she has secrets of her own. Meanwhile, as her rivalry with Christopher Rawson (Vincent Franklin) heats up, Lister steps up her plan to re-open her old coal mines. At Shibden, Eugénie's (Albane Courtois) misfortune has implications for John Booth (Thomas Howes), and Thomas Sowden (Tom Lewis) spins a risky web of lies after his father's disappearance.

Written by Sally Wainwright; directed by Sarah Harding.

Episode 5: "Let's have another look at your past perfect"

Debut date: MONDAY, MAY 20 (10:05-11:05 p.m.)

The widowed Reverend Ainsworth (Brendan Patricks) arrives in Halifax, and with encouragement from Mrs. Priestley (Amelia Bullmore), sets his sights on Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle). Aware that Ainsworth's attentions are stirring up memories for her lover, Lister (Suranne Jones) sets out to deal with the clergyman in her own inimitable manner. Meanwhile, Lister presses on with the transformation of her estate, but her ambitious plans threaten to lead her into trouble. At afternoon tea, Marian (Gemma Whelan) remains impressed by Mr. Abbott (John Hollingworth), though her aunt (Gemma Jones) and father (Timothy West) are less so. A discovery in the pigsty gives Mary Sowden (Lucy Black) reason to suspect Thomas (Tom Lewis) is lying about his father.

Written by Sally Wainwright; directed by Jennifer Perrott.

GENTLEMAN JACK is directed by Sally Wainwright, Sarah Harding ("Vikings," "Queer as Folk") and Jennifer Perrott ("Doctor Who"); produced by Lookout Point for HBO and BBC One; executive producers, Sally Wainwright, Faith Penhale and Laura Lankester for Lookout Point and Ben Irving for BBC One; producer, Phil Collinson.