A Woman of Substance: cast, plot, filming news and everything we know

A Woman of Substance was a bestselling novel by the late author Barbara Taylor Bradford that was turned into a classic TV series by Channel 4 in 1985, starring Jenny Seagrove — it was then Channel 4’s most-watched drama ever.

Now Channel 4 is hoping for a repeat success as it launches a reboot of A Woman of Substance as a new series. As per the famous novel, this TV period drama will follow steely businesswoman Emma Harte over many decades, as she claws her way from resourceful servant girl into the head of a thriving international enterprise. But her success comes at a huge cost! Brenda Blethyn plays the odkler Emma Harte looking back on her life, while Jessica Reyonlds in the young Emma, who becomes a business success in the most trying of circumstances...

Brenda Blethyn says: “I’m overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role, in the footsteps of the great Deborah Kerr. As a fan of Barbara Taylor-Bradford, it is an unmissable opportunity to play the fierce Emma Harte.”

Jessica Reynolds says: “To be a part of A Woman of Substance and to step into the shoes of Emma is an absolute dream for me. The team and cast we have behind this are truly inspiring and I’m so excited to bring the stunning scripts and this great piece of literature to the screen.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the all-new Channel 4 series A Woman of Substance…

A Woman of Substance release date 

The all-new series of A Woman of Substance will air on Channel 4 but it's too early for a release date to be announced. It's filming in 2025 so likely to arrive in 2026. Keep an eye on this page and we’ll update it when we hear anything.

A Woman of Substance will be distributed in the US and internationally by Banijay Rights.

Is there a trailer? 

No, not yet. We'll post here when it arrives.

A Woman of Substance plot 

A Woman of Substance follows Emma Harte, a servant girl at Fairley Hall in Yorkshire in 1911, as she learns to use treachery to get what she wants. In the wake of a tragedy, Emma leaves her poverty behind her and starts her own business empire.

But rather than giving her everything she has always wanted, it means she has to give up on the one man she could never have. We follow Emma through two marriages, two wars and generations of secrets and as those around her become consumed by greed, envy and the need for revenge, she must fight harder than ever and face up to the betrayals of the past.

Emma's dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse. A rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century, Emma defies the expectations of her society, fearlessly challenging the roles she's given, smashing glass ceilings, and never, ever deviating from her masterplan: Get to the top. Whatever it takes.

A Woman of Substance cast — Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds as the older and younger Emma Harte

Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds as the older and younger Emma Harte in this new Channel 4 version of A Woman of Substance. 

Brenda Blethyn of course has been much love as detective Vera Stanhope in ITV1 crime drama Vera and was Oscar nominated for the British movie Secrets & Lies. She also appeared in ITV comedy Kate & Koji.

Jessica Reynolds has previously starred in Kneecap & The Wolf, The Fox & The Leopard).

Other cast in A Woman of Substance

Joining the ensemble cast  of A Woman of Substance are Emmett J Scanlan (Kin, Mobland) as Adam Fairley, Lydia Leonard (The Mirror and The Light, Gentleman Jack) as Olivia Wainwright, Leanne Best (This City Is Ours, Line of Duty) as Adele Fairley, Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom, Domina) as Edwin Fairley, Harry Cadby (In Flight, Everything Now) as Gerald Fairley, Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Line of Duty) as Jack Harte, BAFTA-winning Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable, Doctor Who) as Frank Harte, Niall Wright (Hope Street, Slow Horses) as Mac, Robert Wilfort (Gavin and Stacey, Wolf Hall) as Murgatroyd, Toby Regbo (Medici, A Discovery of Witches) as Jim Fairley, Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher, Ten Percent) as Priya Chandra, Sophie Bould (Call The Midwife, Sex Education) as Elizabeth Harte and Georgina Sadler (Silo, Boarders) as Polly.

Behind the scenes, filming news and more on A Woman of Substance

A Woman of Substance is being filmed in Yorkshire from spring 2024. It's produced by The Forge Entertainment (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage), a Banijay UK company, NS the eight-part series is written by Katherine Jakeways (The Buccaneers) and co-written by Roanne Bardsley (The Buccaneers, Screw). The drama has been commissioned for Channel 4 by Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama and Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Drama. A Woman of Substance will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights. 

The eight-part drama series by The Forge Entertainment, Beth Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber and Katherine Jakeways are the executive producers alongside Barbara Taylor-Bradford. Roanne Bardsley is co-executive Producer.  Charlie Palmer (Extraordinary, Agatha Raisin) is producer and John Hardwick (The Buccaneers, One Day, The A Word) will direct block one

Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Drama at Channel 4, says: “Attracting an ensemble cast of this quality is testament to Katherine and Roanne’s exceptional scripts. We are so excited to be bringing this fresh, sexy and bold adaptation of an iconic book to Channel 4.”

All about the original 1985 miniseries of A Woman of Substance

The book "A Woman of Substance" was turned into a three-part miniseries by Channel 4 in 1985, starring Jenny Seagrove as the young Emma Harte. It also starred Deborah Kerr as the older Emma alongside Barry Bostwick, Peter Egan, Liam Neeson and Miranda Richardson. The final episode drew in 13.8 million viewers, which remains Channel 4’s highest-ever audience.

All about A Woman of Substance author Barbara Taylor Bradford 

"A Woman of Substance" is the debut novel by the late Barbara Taylor Bradford and published in 1979. It sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Her sequel novel "Hold The Dream" was also made into a series, again starring Deborah Kerr and Jenny Seagrove. In total Barbara wrote 40 novels, the last of which was published the year before her death.

Before she became an author, Barbara was a typist then a reporter for the Yorkshire Post before becoming Fashion Editor of "Woman’s Own" magazine. She was made an OBE in 2007. She died aged 91 on November 24 2024 after a short illness. She was married to film and TV producer Robert ‘Bob’ Bradford for 56 years before he died in 2019.