THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER

Dubbed ‘the story of the first modern lesbian', Maxine Peake (Shameless, Criminal Justice, Red Riding) stars in The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister; a bold and passionate drama based on the extraordinary life of a pioneering Yorkshire woman, is scheduled to premiere on BBC 2 on Bank Holiday Monday 31 May, 9.00-10.30pm. Filming took place throughout winter 2009 at locations in North and West Yorkshire, with support from Screen Yorkshire's production liaison team.

Anne Lister, 1791-1840, was a Yorkshire landowner, industrialist, traveller and diarist. She was a lesbian, who, despite needing to keep her orientation secret from society at large, in private defied the conventions of her times by living with her female lover. The Listers, related to Samuel Cunliffe Lister, owner of Lister's Mill in Manningham, lived at Shibden Hall in Halifax for more than 300 years from 1615.

Anne Lister kept a detailed account of her life, her loves and her emotions in a fascinating and painfully honest four million word journal. A sizeable portion was written in code and the recent deciphering of these diaries provides an astonishing insight into the life of the woman who has been called Britain's first modern lesbian. These diaries and Anne Lister's truly extraordinary life form the basis for this one-off 90-minute drama which filmed at authentic locations in Yorkshire including:

 - Newburgh Priory, Coxwold
 - Bramham Park house and grounds
 - Oakwell Hall, Birstall
 - Moors near to Newburgh Priory
 - York's historic Streets

Maxine talks about filming in and around Yorkshire. "It was cold, sometimes freezing being up north but it was beautiful being up on the Moors. It was fascinating. We spent a bizarre day with three gamekeepers learning about their life. You just think they go round shouting, telling people to get off their land and shooting pheasants but there's a lot more to it than that! It was lovely. We also filmed in York which is such a beautiful city."

An accompanying one-hour documentary presented by comedy writer and presenter Sue Perkins will tell the story of Anne Lister and the decoding of her diaries. The documentary, which filmed at Shibden Hall and Halifax Parish Church, will be hitting our screens alongside the drama. 

Executive Producter for Oxford Film and Television Simon Rockell commented:
"We found Screen Yorskhire really supportive in the making of 'The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister' - the team in Leeds were always a delight to work with and made filming in Yorkshire a real pleasure."

Written by Jane English (Street Dance 3D, Sugar Rush) and directed by James Kent (Elizabeth David: A Life in Recipes, Margaret), The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister includes a stellar cast line-up including Anna Madeley (Crooked House, Sense and Sensibility); Susan Lynch (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Scouting Book For Boys); Christine Bottomley (Land Girls, Hope Springs); Gemma Jones (Spooks, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince); Dean Lennox Kelly (Shameless, Robin Hood) and Tina O'Brien (Coronation Street).

Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two, adds:
"This is the world of the Brontes, with an unexpected twist. These remarkable diaries have shown that life and love in 19th century Yorkshire was more varied and surprising than you might think from reading the great novels."

For more information, visit the BBC website.

Find out about more film and television productions filmed in the region: www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/made-in-yorkshire/