Gentleman Jack series two: Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle seen in first photos from BBC drama

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Suranne Jones’ Anne Walker shares a tender moment with her new wife Ann Lister [Sophie Rundle] in first look images at the second series of Gentleman Jack, as she reprises her role as the ‘first modern lesbian’.

The award-winning TV show, created by Sally Wainwright, is returning for another eight episodes of the historical drama after a successful first run on BBC One in 2019.  

Anne is a Regency landowner and the series is a dramatisation set in the 1830s based on Lister’s diaries, which were part-written in a cryptic code.

Intimate: Suranne Jones’ Anne Walker shares a tender moment with her new wife Ann Lister [Sophie Rundle] in first look images at the second series of Gentleman Jack, as she reprises her role as the ‘first modern lesbian’

Series one followed Lister’s life as she inherited her uncle’s fading estate, Shibden Hall in Halifax, which she attempted to restore while beginning a romance with Ann [Rundle].

The forthcoming episodes will pick up in Yorkshire in 1834 as all eyes turn to Lister and Walker as they set up home together at Shibden Hall as wife and wife, determined to combine their estates and become a power couple.

However, Lister’s entrepreneurial spirit frightens the locals as much as her love life and, with Halifax on the brink of revolution, her refusal to keep a low profile becomes provocative and dangerous.

She's back! The award-winning TV show, created by Sally Wainwright, is returning for another eight episodes of the historical drama after a successful first run on BBC One in 2019

She’s back! The award-winning TV show, created by Sally Wainwright, is returning for another eight episodes of the historical drama after a successful first run on BBC One in 2019

Plot: Anne is a Regency landowner and the series is a dramatisation set in the 1830s based on Lister's diaries, which were part-written in a cryptic code

Plot: Anne is a Regency landowner and the series is a dramatisation set in the 1830s based on Lister’s diaries, which were part-written in a cryptic code

The newly released teaser images show Jones and Rundle now living their married life.

Gemma Whelan, who plays Marian Lister, and Lydia Leonard, who portrays Mariana Lawton, also appear in the new selection of photos.

Actress Joanna Scanlan can also be seen for the first time as she joins the cast as Lister’s outrageous former lover Isabella ‘Tib’ Norcliffe.

Love interest: Series one followed Lister's life as she inherited her uncle's fading estate, Shibden Hall in Halifax, which she attempted to restore while beginning a romance with Ann [Rundle] (pictured)

Love interest: Series one followed Lister’s life as she inherited her uncle’s fading estate, Shibden Hall in Halifax, which she attempted to restore while beginning a romance with Ann [Rundle] (pictured)

Also returning to Shibden Hall for series two are Gemma Jones as Aunt Anne Lister and Timothy West as Jeremy Lister.

They will be joined by many other returning cast members including Jodhi May, Katherine Kelly, Derek Riddell, Stephanie Cole and Peter Davison.

Amelia Bullmore, Vincent Franklin, Shaun Dooley, Rosie Cavaliero, Joe Armstrong, Anthony Flanagan and George Costigan are also set to reprise their roles.

New start: The forthcoming episodes will pick up in Yorkshire in 1834 as all eyes turn to Lister and Walker as they set up home together at Shibden Hall as wife and wife, determined to combine their estates and become a power couple

Worried? However, Lister's entrepreneurial spirit frightens the locals as much as her love life and, with Halifax on the brink of revolution, her refusal to keep a low profile becomes provocative and dangerous

New start: The forthcoming episodes will pick up in Yorkshire in 1834 as all eyes turn to Lister and Walker as they set up home together at Shibden Hall as wife and wife, determined to combine their estates and become a power couple

New arrival: Actress Joanna Scanlan can also be seen for the first time as she joins the cast as Lister's outrageous former lover Isabella 'Tib' Norcliff

New arrival: Actress Joanna Scanlan can also be seen for the first time as she joins the cast as Lister’s outrageous former lover Isabella ‘Tib’ Norcliff 

The first series of the period drama was a hit for BBC One and iPlayer, averaging 6.8 million viewers across its eight-episode run, according to the broadcaster.

It went on to win the Royal Television Society best drama series award in 2020 and also received Bafta nominations for best drama, as well as a leading actress nod for Suranne Jones’s performance.

The new series is written by Wainwright, who also acts as an executive producer alongside Jones and Faith Penhale and Will Johnston for production company Lookout Point, and Ben Irving for BBC One.

Edward Hall, Amanda Brotchie and Fergus O’Brien will direct.

Gentleman Jack will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Spring.

Series two: Gemma Whelan, who plays Marian Lister, and Lydia Leonard (pictured), who portrays Mariana Lawton, also appear in the new selection of photos

Series two: Gemma Whelan, who plays Marian Lister, and Lydia Leonard (pictured), who portrays Mariana Lawton, also appear in the new selection of photos

Smash hit! The first series of the period drama was a hit for BBC One and iPlayer, averaging 6.8 million viewers across its eight-episode run, according to the broadcaster

Smash hit! The first series of the period drama was a hit for BBC One and iPlayer, averaging 6.8 million viewers across its eight-episode run, according to the broadcaster

Shaking things up: Gemma (pictured) is another new member of the cast

Shaking things up: Gemma (pictured) is another new member of the cast