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    Back to The Business

    The Business

    Sally Wainwright on her new HBO-BBC series ‘Gentleman Jack’

    Growing up, Sally Wainwright visited Shibden Hall, a historic house and park in West Yorkshire. But she wasn’t taught much about Anne Lister, who had lived there in the 19th century.

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    By Kim Masters • Apr 26, 2019 • 28m Listen

    Growing up in West Yorkshire, Sally Wainwright visited the historic home of Anne Lister, but learned nothing about the extraordinary 19th century businesswoman and gay-marriage pioneer. Once she did, years later, Wainwright wanted to make a series about Lister’s life. But she only got the chance after creating the hit crime show 'Happy Valley.' Now, Wainwright has finally brought Lister to life in ‘Gentleman Jack,’ her new BBC-HBO series. She tells us about reading Lister’s 5 million word diary--the sexy parts were written in code--and about the critical lessons she learned writing British soaps early in her career.

    In this episode

    2 stories
    1. 1:01

      Hollywood news banter: Disney versus Disney

      Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Walt Disney’s brother, is calling out CEO Robert Iger’s astounding pay , especially compared to the median salary of a Disney worker.

      Read the story
      7 min
    2. 7:49

      In 'Gentleman Jack,' Sally Wainwright brings Anne Lister to life

      The new BBC-HBO series ‘ Gentleman Jack ’ begins in the Britain of 1832--the tail end of the Industrial Revolution. Anne Lister, a well-traveled student of everything--returns home to Shibden Hall: her uncle’s sprawling property in West Yorkshire.

      Read the story
      21 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kim Masters

      partner/writer at Puck News, host of KCRW's “The Business.”

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kaitlin Parker

      Producer, 'The Business' and 'Hollywood Breakdown'

      CultureArts

    In this episode

    2 stories
    1. 1:017 min

      Hollywood news banter: Disney versus Disney

    2. 7:4921 min

      In 'Gentleman Jack,' Sally Wainwright brings Anne Lister to life

    Back to The Business