Vera icon Brenda Blethyn stars in dramatic first-look trailer for much-anticipated remake of classic Channel 4 drama

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I just saw the first trailer for “A Woman of Substance,” and I’m really excited! It’s a new take on a classic story – Channel 4 actually adapted it about 40 years ago, and this is a fresh remake. It looks like a gorgeous period drama, and I can’t wait to see it.

The latest installment, created for Channel 4, features Brenda Blethyn (known for “Vera”) and Jessica Reynolds (“House of Guinness”) both playing Emma Harte – but at different points in her life.

The new trailer introduces Blethyn’s Emma as a woman living in New York, driven by a lifelong quest for revenge. It then cuts back to show Reynolds’s Emma working in a lavish home, but receiving a cautionary warning about letting her aspirations get the better of her.

The trailer features supporting performances by Lenny Rush, Lydia Leonard, Emmett J. Scanlan, and Will Mellor. You can view the trailer now.

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The series also features performances by Leanne Best, known for “This City Is Ours,” Ewan Horrocks (“The Last Kingdom”), Harry Cadby (“In Flight”), Niall Wright (“Slow Horses”), Robert Wilfort (“Gavin & Stacey”), Toby Regbo (“Belgravia”), Hiftu Quasem (“The Witcher”), Sophie Bould (“Call The Midwife”), Georgina Sadler (“Silo”), and Jo Joyner (“EastEnders”).

Based on Barbara Taylor Bradford’s novel, the series follows Emma Harte, a determined and poor maid in Yorkshire, England, in 1911. It chronicles her incredible rise to become a tremendously wealthy woman, ultimately living in a luxurious penthouse in New York City.

Emma’s story follows a woman’s incredible journey to success throughout the 20th century. She boldly breaks from societal expectations, overcomes obstacles, and relentlessly pursues her ambition: reaching the very top, no matter the cost.

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Filmed in Yorkshire, this new adaptation was written by Katherine Jakeways, known for her work on The Buccaneers, and Roanne Bardsley, who has written for Hollyoaks.

When Brenda Blethyn was first cast in the series, she expressed her excitement, saying she was thrilled to take on such a well-known role, following in the footsteps of Deborah Kerr. As a longtime fan of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s work, she called playing the strong-willed Emma Harte an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

A Woman of Substance will air on Channel 4 in 2026.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the TV production company Fremantle. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-02-11 19:11