Sally Wainwright

Sally Anne Wainwright (born 1963) is an English television writer, producer, and director from Yorkshire. Early in her career, Wainwright worked as a playwright, and as a scriptwriter on the long-running radio serial drama The Archers. In the 1990s, Wainwright began her television career, and, in 2000, created her first original drama series At Home with the Braithwaites (2000–2003). Further television series include Unforgiven (2009), Scott & Bailey (2011–2016), Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020), Gentleman Jack (2019–2022) and Happy Valley (2014–2023). Wainwright won the Royal Television Society's Writer of the Year Award in 2009 for Unforgiven. Last Tango in Halifax won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2013, whilst Happy Valley won the same award in both 2015 and 2017. She's worked with Suranne Jones in both Scott & Bailey (where Jones played Rachel Bailey) and Gentleman Jack (where she played Anne Lister). Early life Wainwright was born in 1963 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, to Harry Wainwright and Dorothy Wainwright (née Crowther). Wainwright was brought up in Sowerby Bridge, where she attended Triangle Church of England Primary School and Sowerby Bridge High School. She attended the University of York, reading English and Related Literature. She has one sister.