 In the 1990s Wainwright began her television career and in 2000 created her first original drama series "At Home with the Braithwaites" (2000–2003).She won the Royal Television Society's Writer of the Year Award for the 2009 mini-series "Unforgiven".Wainwright is known for her creation of the ITV drama series "Scott & Bailey" (2011–2016"), Last Tango in Halifax" (2012–present), and "Happy Valley" (2014–present).