The new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance has delighted viewers on social media after airing its first episode on Channel 4 tonight. Arriving 41 years after an extremely successful version with Jenny Seagrove aired on the same channel back in 1985, this one puts Brenda Blethyn front and centre as Emma Harte, with Jessica Reynolds as her younger self.
Spanning six decades, the story charts Emma’s rise from penniless Yorkshire maid in the 1900s to a businesswoman to be reckoned with in the 1970s.
Taking to social media site X, one viewer wrote instantly: “Brenda Blethyn is so fabulous #AWomanOfSubstance.”
Channel 4
Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 — including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV
Another viewer said “she’s incredible”, adding: “it’s amazing so far.”
Someone else posted: “Love how a #Yorkshire family saga with a good dose of ‘upstairs downstairs’ drama is on TV again – A Woman of Substance is a classic!”
Over on Threads, a viewer wrote: “I’m only 10 minutes in to [A Woman Of Substance] over on Channel 4 and I’m already swept away by this saga. Honestly nothing beats escaping a world that’s currently burning down with a story about betrayal, resilience, women fighting for their rights… and revenge!!”
The rest of the cast have come in for praise, too, with one viewer quipping on X: “take a moment to appreciate how dishy Will Mellor with a tasche looks in #WomanOfSubstance.”
Channel 4
Related: Sherwood star’s “gripping” and “engrossing” British crime drama becomes ITV’s number 1 trending show
“Good to see Lenny Rush back on our screens,” reads another post.
The series is comprised of eight episodes, written by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, and has been dubbed “engrossing” in early reviews.
“Emma is a fabulous character: headstrong, capable, with a knack for sweet-talking everyone who believes themselves to be above her,” said Metro. “It’s tremendous fun to watch. Reynolds glints with charm and her Yorkshire [accent] is faultless.”
The Guardian branded it a “wonderful, horny revenge drama”, and Radio Times summarized: “A Woman of Substance is the kind of show you can’t help but want to blitz through to the end – a testament to the captivating leading ladies at the centre of it.”
A Woman of Substance is airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4, with the whole run available to stream now.
The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Harry Styles, is here! Buy Harry Styles in newsagents or online.
Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online; specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who’ll listen.