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A Woman of Substance (2026 TV series)

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A Woman of Substance
A Woman of Substance Title Card 2026 (Channel 4).png
Based on A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Screenplay by Katherine Jakeways
Roanne Bardsley
Directed byJohn Hardwick
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerCharlie Palmer
Production company
Original release
Network Channel 4
Release11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)

A Woman of Substance is a British historical drama television series created for Channel 4 and written by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford. The cast is led by Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds in the role of Emma Harte.

Contents

The series premiered on 11 March 2026 on Channel 4.

Premise

A drama spanning six decades, charting the rise of Emma Harte from penniless Yorkshire maid in the early 1900s to powerful 1970s business mogul. Betrayed by her aristocratic lover and cast out when she becomes pregnant, young Emma vows lifelong revenge against the family she once worked for. In the 1970s, as she approaches her 80th birthday, betrayal from within Emma’s own family threatens everything she’s fought a lifetime to build. [1]

Cast

Episodes

No.Directed byWritten byOriginal release dateBroadcast date (UK)
1 John Hardwick Katherine Jakeways 11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)11 March 2026

Ambitious young Yorkshire maid Emma Harte starts a forbidden romance with Edwin Fairley, the son of the master of the house – losing sight of her plan to escape Fairley Hall for a better life. Meanwhile, a transgressive love triangle unfolds between Master Adam Fairley, his wife, and his wife’s sister.

Meanwhile, in 1970s New York, Emma is warned by Jim Fairley that there is a plot to take from her the business empire she has worked her whole life to build.
2John Hardwick Roanne Bardsley 11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)12 March 2026

Emma and Edwin fall deeper in love but Emma grapples with what future they can possibly have; they come from different worlds, servant and master. Elsewhere in Fairley Hall, Adam and Olivia embark on their own love affair behind Adele’s back, whose erratic behaviour and paranoia worsens.

In the 1970s, Emma reckons with her children’s plan to betray her and oust her from the Harte company but is unaware of a secret blossoming romance between her protégé granddaughter Paula and Jim Fairley.
3John HardwickRoanne Bardsley11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)18 March 2026
Emma questions whether to leave Fairley and end her romance with Edwin. Adele is getting sober, causing rifts in the household.
4Samantha HarrieKatherine Jakeways11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)19 March 2026
A heavily pregnant Emma establishes a new life for herself and her baby in Armley. Edwin’s fiancée begins to ask questions.
5Samantha HarrieRoanne Bardsley11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)25 March 2026
Emma is tempted by romance again for the first time since Edwin. A sober Adele returns home, threatening everything.
6Richard SeniorKatherine Jakeways11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)26 March 2026
Emma prepares the perfect Christmas for her family, but her obsession with work and revenge brings danger to her door.
7Richard SeniorRoanne Bardsley11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)1 April 2026
Britain is at war. To stay afloat Emma takes a huge gamble that could cost her far more than her business.
8Richard SeniorKatherine Jakeways11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)2 April 2026
Young Emma’s business is failing, but an unlikely alliance may be her lifeline. An unforeseen danger awaits 1970s Emma.

Production

Development

The series is produced by The Forge and is adapted by Katherine Jakeways, with Roanne Bardsley, and adapted from the 1979 novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford. The series was announced as in development for Channel 4 in February 2025. [2] The series was first adapted for the channel in 1984, and a new adaptation had first been reported in November 2024. [3] Beth Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber and Jakeways are the executive producers and Charlie Palmer the series producer with John Hardwick a director. [4]

Broughton Hall served as Fairley Hall in both the 1985 and 2026 adaptations. Broughton Hall.jpg
Broughton Hall served as Fairley Hall in both the 1985 and 2026 adaptations.

Casting

In April 2025, Brenda Blethyn, Jessica Reynolds and Emmett J. Scanlan joined the cast in leading roles. [5] The cast also includes Lydia Leonard, Leanne Best, Lenny Rush, Ewan Horrocks and Will Mellor. [4]

Filming

Filming began in Yorkshire in April 2025, [6] with interiors and exteriors of Broughton Hall featured heavily. [7] Series creator Katherine Jakeways revealed that author Barbara Taylor Bradford had personally requested that production was "as Yorkshire-based" as possible, which Jakeways says was honoured. [8]

Filming also took place in Liverpool [9] and at Beamish open-air museum in County Durham. [10]

Release

The series' first episode was broadcast on Channel 4 on 11 March 2026, with the eight-part series available as a boxset on Channel's streaming service on the same date. [11]

Panel discussion at the premiere of A Woman of Substance in Leeds in February 2026. Panel discussions at the premiere of A Woman of Substance.jpg
Panel discussion at the premiere of A Woman of Substance in Leeds in February 2026.

Banijay Rights, who is responsible for the series' international distribution, confirmed in February 2026 that the U.S. streaming rights for the series had been secured by BritBox. [12]

Reception

The series received positive reviews, with Mail+ calling it a "stunning adaptation", [13] and Woman & Home describing it as "absolutely glorious" and a "powerful, feminist watch". [14]

Hollie Richardson of The Guardian described it as "another wonderful (and horny) retelling" of the novel, [15] and Helen Fear of TV Guide said that "if you’re a fan of period dramas" then this "quality series" is "a great yarn". [16]

Radio Times called it "epic, sweeping, unironic TV", adding that the series "remains hypnotic for the same reasons it worked all those years ago", [17] additionally describing Reynolds as a "captivating tour-de-force". [18] Daily Express asserted that the "glossy, polished" series does Taylor Bradford's work "justice", adding that the costume designers "have gone all out", making the series "far more stylish than the 1985 version". [19] The Telegraph noted that writers Jakeways and Bardsley "bring a modern sensibility" to the "entertaining" adaptation. [20]

Metro called it a "worthy heir" to the 1985 adaptation, describing it as "engrossing" and "tremendous fun to watch", awarding it three stars and noting comparisons to Disney+ series Rivals . [21] Charlotte O'Sullivan of The Independent , in her three star review, also referenced Rivals and gave "kudos" to the series' creators for the "mostly thrilling series", describing Reynolds’ performance as "extraordinary" and Blethyn's as "magnetic". [22] In another three star review, Financial Times described the series as a “ Downton -meets- Dallas " reboot which is "perfectly watchable" albeit "stuck in the 1980s". [23]

References

  1. ↑ "A Woman of Substance Press Pack". Channel 4 Press. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  2. ↑ McHugh, Marian (12 February 2025). "Channel 4 outlines six-strong drama slate". Broadcast . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  3. ↑ Goldbart, Max (11 February 2025). "Channel 4 Confirms 'A Woman Of Substance' Remake On Splashy TV Drama Slate Featuring 'The Rachel Incident', 'Undeclared War' Season 2 & Daisy Haggard's Latest". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 Goldbart, Max (28 April 2025). "Brenda Blethyn & Jessica Reynolds Leading Channel 4's 'A Woman Of Substance' Remake". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Kneecap star Jessica Reynolds is A Woman of Substance". RTÉ . 29 April 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  6. ↑ Creamer, Jon (28 April 2025). "Brenda Blethyn leads C4's Woman of Substance". Televisual. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Show of the Week: A Woman of Substance". Broadcast (magazine) . 16 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "A Woman of Substance creator reveals Barbara Taylor Bradford's one request for Channel 4 adaptation". The Independent. 11 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  9. ↑ Holmes, Wesley (1 June 2025). "Liverpool waterfront transformed into New York for Channel 4 drama". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Show of the Week: A Woman of Substance". Broadcast (magazine) . 16 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Moss, Molly (25 February 2026). "Vera icon Brenda Blethyn's new Channel 4 remake of classic drama finally confirms release date". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "BritBox To Stream 'A Woman Of Substance' Starring Brenda Blethyn In The U.S." Deadline Hollywood . 23 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Best of On Demand TV - A Woman Of Substance (2026 series)". Mail+ (Daily Mail). 11 March 2026.
  14. ↑ Wigley, Lucy (11 March 2026). "We've found the next drama you won't be able to drag your eyes from: Brenda Blethyn's A Woman of Substance is a powerful, feminist watch". Woman & Home. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  15. ↑ Richardson, Hollie (11 March 2026). "TV tonight: Brenda Blethyn's wonderful, horny revenge drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  16. ↑ Fear, Helen (11 March 2026). "A Woman of Substance review: Brenda Blethyn steals every scene in her first TV role since leaving Vera". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  17. ↑ Frost, Caroline (11 March 2026). "Brenda Blethyn's A Woman of Substance to Lovejoy – are we in the era of "microwave TV"?". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  18. ↑ Cormack, Morgan (11 March 2026). "A Woman of Substance review: Brenda Blethyn isn't the only scene-stealer in this rompy remake". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  19. ↑ Winston, Fran (11 March 2026). "I watched the original Woman of Substance - here's how it compares to the new one". The Daily Express. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  20. ↑ "What's on TV tonight and this week: A Woman of Substance, Nicole Kidman stars in Scarpetta, and more". The Telegraph. 11 March 2026.
  21. ↑ Cook, Rebecca (10 March 2026). "Channel 4's new Woman of Substance is engrossing - but Brenda Blethyn fans will be gutted". Metro. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  22. ↑ O'Sullivan, Charlotte (11 March 2026). "A Woman of Substance review – Classic novel gets a radical, Rivals-style reboot". The Independent. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  23. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (10 March 2026). "A Woman of Substance TV review — Channel 4 hit gets a Downton-meets-Dallas reboot". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
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