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Halifax, 1832. Rejected by aristocratic Vere Hobart, Anne Lister returns to her shabby ancestral home, Shibden Hall, determined to restore its fortunes and find herself a wife.

Halifax, 1832. Anne Lister returns from Hastings to Shibden Hall, having discovered that her would-be companion and lover, the aristocratic Vere Hobart, has accepted a marriage proposal from a man. Despite her affection for her elderly aunt, Anne is frustrated by the shabbiness of her ancestral home and finds her father and long-suffering sister difficult to live with. A visit from her ex-lover Mariana Lawton compounds Anne’s fear that she is destined to be alone. However, when Anne discovers that her land is rich in coal, her plans to transform the estate soon provide a welcome distraction from her broken heart. On the neighbouring estate, Crow Nest, shy heiress Ann Walker is quietly delighted to hear that charismatic Anne Lister is back. Meanwhile, Anne’s servants and tenants have problems of their own. A hit-and-run accident on Shibden land puts a child’s life at risk, and Anne’s French maid Eugenie finds herself in trouble.

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58 minutes

Audio described

Last on

Sun 19 May 2019 21:00

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Credits

Role Contributor
Anne Lister Suranne Jones
Ann Walker Sophie Rundle
Mariana Lawton Lydia Leonard
Marian Lister Gemma Whelan
Aunt Anne Lister Gemma Jones
Jeremy Lister Timothy West
Vere Hobart Jodhi May
Writer Sally Wainwright
Director Sally Wainwright
Producer Phil Collinson
Production Company Lookout Point

Broadcast

Featured in...

Cast and Characters

Cast and Characters

Meet Anne Lister, the inimitable lady of Shibden Hall, and the characters in her life.

The Real Diaries of Anne Lister

The Real Diaries of Anne Lister

Her intimate diaries paint a picture of the changing world of early 19th century Britain.