Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds to lead Channel 4 adaptation of A Woman of Substance

Filming has commenced in Yorkshire on a brand-new adaptation of A Woman of Substance for Channel 4, starring Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Pride and Prejudice) as Emma Harte and Jessica Reynolds (Kneecap & The Wolf, The Fox & The Leopard) as the younger version of the iconic character, a housemaid-turned-mogul, daughter, mother, lover, fighter and a 20th century feminist icon who refused to know her ‘place’.

Produced by The Forge Entertainment (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage), a Banijay UK company, the eight-part series is written by Katherine Jakeways (The Buccaneers) and co-written by Roanne Bardsley (The Buccaneers, Screw). 

Joining the ensemble cast are Emmett J Scanlan (Kin, Mobland) as Adam Fairley, Lydia Leonard (The Mirror and The Light, Gentleman Jack) as Olivia Wainwright, Leanne Best (This City Is Ours, G'Wed) as Adele Fairley, Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom, Domina) as Edwin Fairley, Harry Cadby (In Flight, Everything Now) as Gerald Fairley, Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Line of Duty) as Jack Harte, BAFTA-winning Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable, Doctor Who) as Frank Harte, Niall Wright (Hope Street, Slow Horses) as Mac, Robert Wilfort (Gavin and Stacey, Wolf Hall) as Murgatroyd, Toby Regbo (Belgravia, A Discovery of Witches) as Jim Fairley, Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher, Ten Percent) as Priya Chandra, Sophie Bould (Call The Midwife, Sex Education) as Elizabeth Harte and Georgina Sadler (Silo, Boarders) as Polly.

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.

Previously Emmy-nominated and Channel 4’s biggest ever drama when it was made 40 years ago, this new revenge romp is a re-imagining of the multi-million bestselling novel and global phenomenon written by Barbara Taylor Bradford, which feels just as searingly relevant today as it did back then.

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

Jessica Reynolds says: “To be a part of A Woman of Substance and to step into the shoes of Emma is an absolute dream for me. 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.”

Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Drama at Channel 4 adds: “Attracting an ensemble cast of this quality is testament to Katherine and Roanne’s exceptional scripts. We are so excited to be bringing this fresh, sexy and bold adaptation of an iconic book to Channel 4.”

An 8x60’ drama series by The Forge Entertainment, Beth Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber and Katherine Jakeways are the executive producers alongside Barbara Taylor Bradford. Roanne Bardsley is co-executive Producer.  Charlie Palmer (Extraordinary, Agatha Raisin) is producer and John Hardwick (The Buccaneers, One Day, The A Word) will direct block one. 

A Woman of Substance has been commissioned for Channel 4 by Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama and Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Drama. A Woman of Substance will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.

Transmission details will be announced in due course.

*ENDS*

For more information, please contact:
Harriet Wilson, Publicity Manager, Drama, Comedy & Acquisitions
Content Communications | Channel 4 Television
hwilson@channel4.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Headshot credits:
Brenda Blethyn – Shutterstock
Jessica Reynolds – Chris Proctor

About The Forge:

The Forge, a Banijay UK company, is a UK based drama production company with an unrivalled reputation for high quality, ambitious and influential TV drama, working in collaboration with the UK’s leading creative talent. The company has produced a wide range of award-winning dramas including Jack Thorne’s ‘National Treasure’ starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, ’Help’ starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham, David Hare’s ‘Collateral’ and ‘Roadkill’, starring Carey Mulligan and Hugh Laurie respectively and Anya Reiss’s ‘Becoming Elizabeth’ for Starz in the US. 

Most recently, The Forge have produced major 8-part series ‘The Buccaneers’ created and written by Katherine Jakeways for Apple TV+; 4-part Disney+ series ‘Shardlake’ by Stephen Butchard, ‘Generation Z’, a six-part series and the first original TV project from Ben Wheatley for Channel 4 and ‘Just Act Normal’, a youth-skewing darkly comic series from award-winning writer Janice Okoh for BBC Three/BBC iPlayer.

In addition to ‘A Woman of Substance’, The Forge currently has multiple, high profile new titles for both linear and SVOD platforms in production, including season 2 of ‘The Buccaneers’ for Apple TV+ and ‘Falling’ a major 6-part original drama from Jack Thorne for Channel 4.