A Woman Of Substance: What To Expect

Channel 4 first adapted Barbara Taylor Bradford’s mammoth novel A Woman of Substance in 1984, and filming is officially underway on a reboot no less than 40 years later. Here’s what to expect.

A Woman Of Substance: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

What is the place of a woman? This is the question at the heart of A Woman of Substance, which traces the life of Emma Harte, an iconic housemaid-turned-mogul, daughter, mother, lover and fighter who refused to know her ‘place’ – and, when Barbara Taylor Bradford first introduced her to the world in 1979, an instant feminist icon.

Bradford’s novel of the same name is a tome, tallying more than 900 pages and inspiring six sequels and a prequel. When Channel 4 first adapted A Woman of Substance in 1984, the three-part series was the channel’s largest ever launch. Flash forward to 2025, and a new adaptation is on the way, less than a year after the death of the author in November 2024, aged 91. ‘It was always Barbara’s dream to see A Woman of Substance reimagined, as this book – along with her 39 others – features compelling plot lines, which are perfect for television drama,’ says Vicki Downey, a trustee of the Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust. ‘In many ways, A Woman of Substance was one of the first female empowerment novels, portraying a woman driven not by love or the pursuit of it, but by her determination to gain power, protect and provide for others, and, above all, to succeed. It is a classic of its genre.’

‘Emma Harte’s superpower is weaponising the degree to which men underestimate her,’ Ollie Madden, director of Channel 4 Drama, says in summation of the story. ‘Watching her do that through the decades, experiencing her epic journey from housemaid to mogul, promises to be as thrillingly entertaining as it is fiercely relevant. We couldn’t be more excited to bring Barbara Taylor Bradford’s classic creation to life again.’

What Will Happen?

A Woman of Substance whisks us back to 1911, when Emma Harte is an impoverished but ambitious maid in Yorkshire. The series will trace her dizzying climb to becoming the world’s richest woman, a rags-to-riches tale which culminates with Emma gazing down on her sprawling empire from a New York City Penthouse. Defying the expectations of her society and fearlessly challenging the roles she is given, Emma never wavers from her master plan: Get to the top, whatever it takes.

A timeless tale that remains relevant today, this new eight-part adaptation has been written by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, who previously collaborated on Apple TV’s Edith Wharton adaptation, The Buccaneers. ‘I was a child in the ‘80s, when A Woman of Substance was on every bookstand, every glass-topped coffee table and hidden, well-thumbed, under every pillow,’ says Jakeways, who is also a showrunner on the series. ‘The original Channel 4 adaptation was packed full of rolling Yorkshire hills, hairspray, shoulder pads and heaving bosoms and I desperately wanted in. So, it’s an incredible thrill for me to be bringing this blockbusting, epic saga of ambition, lust and revenge back to exactly where it belongs: Channel 4. And, we hope, doing justice to those twin feminist icons: the unstoppable Emma Harte and the original, inspirational Woman of Substance herself… Barbara Taylor Bradford.’

The Cast

Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds will both portray leading lady Emma Harte, joined by an ensemble cast. The full line-up is as follows:

• Brenda Blethyn as Emma Harte
• Jessica Reynolds as young Emma Harte
• Emmett J Scanlan as Adam Fairley
• Lydia Leonard as Olivia Wainwright
• Leanne Best as Adele Fairley
• Ewan Horrocks as Edwin Fairley
• Harry Cadby as Gerald Fairley
• Will Mellor as Jack Harte
• Lenny Rush as Frank Harte
• Niall Wright as Mac
• Robert Wilfort as Murgatroyd
• Toby Regbo as Jim Fairley
• Hiftu Quasem as Priya Chandra
• Sophie Bould as Elizabeth Harte
• Georgina Sadler as Polly

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

‘To be a part of A Woman of Substance and to step into the shoes of Emma is an absolute dream for me,’ Reynolds adds. ‘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.’

Where Is It Being Filmed?

Filming on the eight part adaptation of A Woman of Substance is taking place in Yorkshire.

Release Date

No news just yet on when we will get to see A Woman of Substance, but we think it will air on Channel 4 sometime in 2026.