A Woman of Substance is about to have a fresh makeover, as Channel 4 has started filming a brand-new adaptation starring the brilliant Brenda Blethyn.
It’ll be one of the actress’ first TV roles since quitting the role of Vera in 2024, and she’s “overjoyed to be taking on the iconic role”.
She’ll be leading the adaptation alongside actress Jessica Reynolds.
Here’s everything we know so far about the new TV adaptation of A Woman of Substance on Channel 4, including plot, cast, location, and start date.
What’s the plot of A Woman of Substance on Channel 4?
A Woman of Substance follows Emma Harte, an iconic character from the novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford. She’s described as “a housemaid-turned-mogul, daughter, mother, lover, fighter and a 20th century feminist icon who refused to know her ‘place’”.
The “revenge romp” is a re-imagining of the multi-million bestselling novel and global phenomenon, which feels just as searingly relevant today as it did back then.
Set in 1911, we meet Emma Harte, an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire. A synopsis tells us: “Emma goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse.”
The series is a 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.
Sounds like our kind of woman.
How many episodes is it?
A Woman of Substance is an eight-part series, written by Katherine Jakeways and co-written by Roanne Bardsley – who worked together on The Buccaneers.
Each episode will be an hour long, including ads.
Who plays Emma Harte?
Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds lead the cast of Channel 4’s adaptation of A Woman of Substance. They will play the older and younger versions of heroine Emma Harte.
Of course, Brenda Blethyn is best known for playing DCI Vera Stanhope in detective drama Vera. She also portrayed Kate in Kate and Koji, Miriam Dervish in Outside Edge, and Alison Little in Chance in a Million.
Brenda Blethyn said: “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 is famous for playing Malva Christie in Outlander. A relative newcomer compared to veteran Brenda, Jessica has been on our screens since 2020, when she portrayed Rachael in My Left Nut. Derry Girls fans might know her as Wee Deirdre.
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.”
Who else is in the cast of Channel 4’s A Woman of Substance?
Emmett J Scanlan joins the ensemble cast as Adam Fairley. He’s currently starring in Paramount+ drama Mobland, but is probably best known for his roles in Kin, The Teacher, The Tower, Unforgotten, and Harlan Coben Netflix thriller Fool Me Once. Of course, soap fans will know him as Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks.
Gentleman Jack actress Lydia Leonard will play Olivia Wainwright. She also portrayed Cherie Blair in The Crown.
Leanne Best, who recently played the bereaved mum in The Bay and the jailbird mum in This City is Ours, stars as Adele Fairley.
Meanwhile, Domina’s Ewan Horrocks stars as Edwin Fairley, In Flight‘s Harry Cadby will play as Gerald Fairley, and Slow Horses’ Niall Wright portrays Mac.
The cast also includes Line of Duty’s Will Mellor as Jack Harte, Am I Being Unreasonable? star Lenny Rush as Frank Harte, Wolf Hall’s Robert Wilfort as Murgatroyd, Belgravia’s Toby Regbo as Jim Fairley, Ten Percent’s Hiftu Quasem as Priya Chandra, Call the Midwife‘s Sophie Bould as Elizabeth Harte, and Silo’s Georgina Sadler as Polly.
Where’s it filmed?
Cast and crew of Woman of Substance started filming in Yorkshire in April 2025.
The novel flashes back to the early 20th century when teenager Emma worked as a servant at Fairley Hall in rural Yorkshire, along with her father, Jack, and two brothers, Winston and Frank.
The Fairly family owns several local businesses including a mill and a brickyard.
Later scenes are set in London, with significant portions of the story taking place in New York.
When’s the start date? How can I watch it?
Channel 4 has not confirmed a start date for A Woman of Substance yet, but it’s only just commenced filming.
So we’d expect it to land late in 2025, or early 2026. It will air on Channel 4 and Channel4.com.
Is A Woman of Substance a book?
A Woman of Substance is based on the bestselling novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It’s book one of seven in The Harte Family Saga.
The novel charts the rags to riches story of Emma Harte, who begins her life as a servant girl in Fairley Hall, above the brooding moors of Yorkshire.
The series, featuring Emma Harte and her family, also includes Hold the Dream, To Be the Best, Emma’s Secret, Unexpected Blessings, Just Rewards, and Breaking the Rules.
Critics described the book “as romantic and thrilling as the rest” (Independent on Sunday), “another great yarn from the ultimate storyteller” (The Sun), and “an extravagant, absorbing novel of love, courage, ambition, war, death and passion” (New York Times).
Barbara Taylor Bradford died at the age of 91 in November 2024.
Are there other TV adaptations of the novel?
A Woman of Substance was adapted as an eponymous television mini-series, as were the sequels Hold the Dream and To Be the Best.
It was previously Emmy-nominated and Channel 4’s biggest ever drama when it was made 40 years ago.
Deborah Kerr portrayed Emma Harte in the 1985 adaptation, alongside Jenny Seagrove who played the younger Emma.
Talking about the new Channel 4 adaptation of A Woman of Substance, Commissioning Editor Rebecca Holdsworth, said: “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.”
What is Brenda Blethyn doing now?
Kent-born Brenda may have left Vera for pastures new, and that does not include retiring.
Brenda Blethyn recently confirmed that she’s already shot a new film. In a recent interview about Vera, she was asked if she was retiring from acting. She replied: “Oh no, I haven’t retired. I’ve just come south!”
A week after filming the two feature-length final episodes of Vera over the summer, Brenda went on to shoot a new movie with Andrea Riseborough. The film, entitled Dragonfly, is expected to drop in 2025.
It’s written and directed by A Confession’s Paul Andrew Williams, and follows a woman who takes it upon herself to care for her elderly neighbour when she sees the lack of care she’s receiving from so-called professionals. However, her intentions may not be what they seem…
The film also stars Jason Watkins.
