{"id":624122,"date":"2026-09-22T18:16:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/624122\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T18:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:16:11","slug":"wonderful-drama-with-brilliant-brenda-blethyn-is-one-to-watch-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/624122\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Wonderful&#8221; drama with &#8220;brilliant&#8221; Brenda Blethyn is one to watch tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">A poignant drama starring Brenda Blethyn as a broken-hearted woman juggling caretaking duties has become available to stream. Written and directed by Stevie Davies and Alan Plater, TV movie Belonging was originally released in 2004.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">The film is an adaptation of Stevie Davies&#8217;s novel The Web of Belonging, following Blethyn&#8217;s character Jess Copplestone, a woman left to take care for her estranged husband&#8217;s elderly relatives after he leaves her for a younger lover.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Belonging initially aired on ITV1, earning positive reviews and praise for Blethyn&#8217;s performance as Jess.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"brenda blethyn, belonging\" title=\"Brenda Blethyn, Belonging\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1375\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/437fe028-206f-4d65-8973-965dc7ea4a87.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Producers Films<\/p>\n<p> Who stars in Belonging?<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"20\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">\u2022 Brenda Blethyn as Jess Copplestone<br data-node-id=\"20.1\"\/>\u2022 Kevin Whately as Jacob Copplestone<br data-node-id=\"20.3\"\/>\u2022 Rosemary Harris as May<br data-node-id=\"20.5\"\/>\u2022 Anna Massey as Brenda<br data-node-id=\"20.7\"\/>\u2022 Peter Sallis as Nathan<br data-node-id=\"20.9\"\/>\u2022 Jill Baker as Cathy<br data-node-id=\"20.11\"\/>\u2022 Fiona O&#8217;Shaughnessy as Stephanie<br data-node-id=\"20.13\"\/>\u2022 Matthew Marsh as Peter Fox<\/p>\n<p>What did critics and viewers say about Belonging?<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"25\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2004\/sep\/13\/broadcasting.tvandradio\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2004\/sep\/13\/broadcasting.tvandradio\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"The Guardian\" data-node-id=\"25.0.0\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Guardian<\/a> called Belonging &#8220;wonderful&#8221; in their 2004 review, also praising Blethyn&#8217;s turn as Jess as &#8220;brilliant&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"29\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;She becomes one of those people who thinks only about others, infuriating in her generosity, there to be walked over, to smile and put the kettle on even though she&#8217;s burning up inside,&#8221; the review reads. &#8220;I wanted to reach into the screen to shake her: do something for yourself woman, survive a little.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"34\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0412046\/reviews\/?ref_=tt_ururv_sm\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0412046\/reviews\/?ref_=tt_ururv_sm\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"IMDb\" data-node-id=\"34.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IMDb<\/a>, one viewer said they enjoyed &#8220;another excellent performance from Brenda Blethyn&#8221; who, together with Rosemary Harris as Jess&#8217;s mother-in-law May, delivered &#8220;top-quality&#8221; acting.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"38\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">A second fan noted that Blethyn is &#8220;terrific&#8221; as &#8220;sympathetic, charitable, caregiving, loving&#8221; Jess. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"42\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;Rosemary Harris is stellar in her role as the cantankerous matriarch,&#8221; they also argued. &#8220;Not a happy ending, not a sad ending, just a real one.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"brenda blethyn, belonging\" title=\"Brenda Blethyn, Belonging\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2530\" height=\"1380\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/d064aeca-dcb9-44fd-8b68-b191858f5711.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Producers Films<\/p>\n<p>Where can I watch Belonging?<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"48\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Brenda Blethyn fans can catch Belonging on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW?tag=digitalspy.com-21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Prime Video UK\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"ca189353-fd58-47ea-943e-2eb61ca2faca\" data-node-id=\"48.3\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW?tag=digitalspy.com-21\" data-affiliate-network=\"{&quot;site_id&quot;:&quot;53fd7fa5-d43c-401b-823b-b21cf6cddcd6&quot;,&quot;metadata&quot;:{&quot;links&quot;:{&quot;default&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW?tag=digitalspy.com-21&quot;,&quot;sem&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW?tag=digitalspy.co.uk-lift-21&quot;,&quot;social&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Belonging-Brenda-Blethyn\/dp\/B08XLSCQNW?tag=digitalspy.co.uk-soc-lift-21&quot;}},&quot;network&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Amazon&quot;},&quot;product_metadata&quot;:null,&quot;afflink_redirect&quot;:null}\" data-fp-affiliate-inline-link=\"true\" data-fp-affiliate-button-link=\"false\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"910b3613-6d4a-454d-aeea-33d9f2c70d26\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-1gyyefe e1aq0z090\">Prime Video UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Brenda Blethyn&#8217;s TV series you can stream right now<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"53\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Among Blethyn&#8217;s most recent TV credits is series A Woman of Substance, which you can stream on Channel 4&#8217;s own platform. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"57\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford, the series follows Yorkshire maid Emma Harte from her humble beginnings to her business mogul career.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"61\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Blethyn&#8217;s 14-season run as stern DCI Vera Stanhope on crime drama Vera can be watched in full on ITVX. Also on ITVX is the first season of short-lived comedy Kate &amp; Koji, in which Blethyn plays a prickly caf\u00e9 owner who strikes a friendship with an asylum-seeking doctor.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"65\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Belonging is streaming on Prime Video.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"70\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Streaming Guide\" data-node-id=\"70.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"76\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">The new edition of Legends, a 100-page celebration of Dolly Parton&#8217;s life, is here. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvldollyparton\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvldollyparton\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Dolly in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"76.0.3\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy Dolly in newsagents or online<\/a>.<br data-node-id=\"76.1.0\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790100971_687_a5577bef-f874-41e6-b03b-0f8d9f1e5f46_1686136547.file.png\" alt=\"Headshot of Stefania Sarrubba\" title=\"Headshot of Stefania Sarrubba\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reporter, Digital Spy<\/p>\n<p>Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/author\/stefaniasarrubba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Radio Times<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Spy<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A poignant drama starring Brenda Blethyn as a broken-hearted woman juggling caretaking duties has become available to stream.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":624123,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[137241,635,282202,637,146,1345,85,46,195853,636,282201,237453,411],"class_list":["post-624122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-collection-latest-news","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-63fe321a-728a-4dec-b3c5-a4a19b895e27","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-wonderful-brenda-blethyn-drama-is-one-to-watch-tonight","tag-sponsored-false","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=624122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/624123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=624122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=624122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=624122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}