‘Gentleman Jack’ delayed: How has coronavirus affected Season 2 filming?

Production on the new season of Gentleman Jack has been pushed back.

Based on the diaries of remarkable Regency landowner Anne Lister, the BBC’s hit period drama series is set in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832.

The first episode was the most successful launch for a new BBC drama in 2019, and a second season was swiftly commissioned last summer.

Gentleman Jack will return with another eight episodes and filming was due to commence in the north of England in June.

However, the current global coronavirus pandemic has caused the shooting schedule to be postponed.

English actress Gemma Whelan, who plays Anne’s younger sister Marian, has given fans on update on the status of Season 2.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Whelan revealed: “I do know that we were meant to start filming in June, and of course because of the current situation, that has currently been pushed to September and we all hope that may happen.”

She added: “But we’ve all just got to be flexible and open and wait until the right time when everyone’s safe and it’s okay to get on with things.”

It sounds like it’ll be worth the wait though!

The Game of Thrones star said: “I’ve had the first four scripts – I’ve had them for a long time, since Christmas, actually. And there’s some more fantastic stuff for Marian and Anne and the family to get up to.”

Gentleman Jack creator Sally Wainwright recently revealed what’s next for Anne (Suranne Jones) and Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) following their marriage at the end of the first season.

Wainwright hinted: “Nobody wanted them to be together except themselves, and that gives us lots of interesting material to explore in the second season.”

Gentleman Jack isn’t the only British period drama to be affected by the pandemic, with filming halted on this year’s Call the Midwife Christmas special, the new season of Peaky Blinders, and the next Fantastic Beasts movie.

Season 2 is now expected to air in 2021 on BBC One in the UK and HBO in the US.

Gentleman Jack is available to watch on Amazon Prime.