Channel 4 has just dropped a first-look trailer for Vera star Brenda Blethyn’s brand new upcoming period drama A Woman of Substance, set to debut later this year. The eight-part series will be Blethyn’s first TV role since Vera ended, and sees the star play one of two versions of the housemaid turned-mogul Emma Harte (the younger version will be played by Jessica Reynolds).
An extended version of the trailer shows both Blethyn and Reynolds as the “daughter, mother, lover, fighter and a 20th century feminist icon who refused to know her ‘place’”. The synopsis reads: “1911. Emma Harte, an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England goes on a 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.”
The series also features Harlan Coben’s Stay Close and former EastEnders actor star Jo Joyner as Elizabeth Harte Ainsley, Emma’s daughter whose betrayal spurs her mother’s act of revenge.
Blethyn and Reynold’s A Woman of Substance is the most recent adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE’s global phenomenon and bestselling novel of the same name, which was previously made over 40 years ago.
Channel 4
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The 1984 Emmy-nominated version of the series, also produced by Channel 4, became the broadcaster’s biggest ever drama but “this new revenge romp” is said to feel “as searingly relevant today as it did back then”, according to Channel 4.
Reynolds, most recently known for playing Lady Christine in the dynasty period drama House of Guinness, hopped on Instagram and posted a selfie to celebrate the wrap on filming A Woman of Substance. She captioned it: “19 weeks ago we began filming on A Woman of Substance and now it’s all over. Bye bye my Emma, lovely Leeds and Yorkshire and everyone I met along the way. You all changed me and I love yeee’s.”
This was followed up by another post from Channel 4 in October, which offered first look pics of Blethyn and Reynolds in their shared role.
Channel 4
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“Here’s your first look at A Woman of Substance, a rags-to-riches tale of ambition, power and revenge, coming to @channel4 next year,” posted the broadcaster.
The latest adaptation was filmed in Yorkshire and written by Katherine Jakeways and co-written by Roanne Bardsley. Samantha Harrie and Richard Senior co-directed the series, which was produced by Charlie Palmer. Beth Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber, Katherine Jakeways and The Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust serve as executive producers while Roanne Bardsley is co-executive producer.
A Woman of Substance will air on Channel 4.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.