Suranne Jones is seen getting into a fistfight, brandishing a weapon and kissing her female love interest in a trailer for new BBC period drama Gentleman Jack.

The actress plays Regency landowner Anne Lister, who is regarded as the “first modern lesbian”.

Set in 1832 in West Yorkshire, the eight-part series was created by Sally Wainwright and is based on Lister’s diaries.

It follows the landowner as she returns to Halifax from her travels, determined to transform the fate of her family and their faded ancestral home Shibden Hall – and to find herself a wife.

The drama explores Lister’s relationships at home with her family, her servants, her tenants and her industrial rivals, who will use any dirty tricks they can to bring her down.

The cast also includes Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker, the wealthy heiress who Lister soon sets her sights on marrying, Gemma Whelan as Lister’s sister Marian and Timothy West as their father Jeremy Lister.

Gemma Jones, Stephanie Cole, Peter Davison, Amelia Bullmore, Katherine Kelly and Sofie Grabolare are also in the cast.

Gentleman Jack will air on BBC One this spring.