Vera icon Brenda Blethyn’s new Channel 4 remake of classic drama finally confirms release date

by

Channel 4 announced the premiere date for the new period drama, ‘A Woman of Substance,’ starring Brenda Blethyn, known for her role in ‘Vera’.

This new eight-episode series is based on a Channel 4 adaptation from 40 years ago. It features Brenda Blethyn, known from ‘Vera,’ and Jessica Reynolds, from ‘House of Guinness,’ both playing the main character, Emma Harte, at different points in her life.

The new drama, A Woman of Substance, will begin airing on Channel 4 with two back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, March 11th and Thursday, March 12th, both at 9pm.

After the first episode airs, all eight episodes of the series will be available to watch as a complete set.

A preview of the show has already been shared, revealing Olivia Blethyn as Emma, seeking revenge in New York City.

The scene then shifts to show the character (played by Reynolds) as a young woman working in a large house, where she receives a caution about letting her ambition get the better of her.

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

This is the story of Emma, a woman who rose from humble beginnings to achieve great success throughout the 20th century. She boldly broke societal norms, challenged limitations placed on her, and relentlessly pursued her ambitious goal: reaching the very top, no matter the cost.

The show also stars Leanne Best, known for her role in ‘This City Is Ours,’ along with Ewan Horrocks (‘The Last Kingdom’), Harry Cadby (‘In Flight’), Niall Wright (‘Slow Horses’), and Robert Wilfort (‘Gavin & Stacey’).

I’m so excited to see Toby Regbo, who I loved in Belgravia, joining the cast! And Hiftu Quasem from The Witcher, Sophie Bould of Call the Midwife, Georgina Sadler from Silo, and even Jo Joyner, famous from EastEnders – what an incredible group of actors!

The series is adapted from a screenplay by Katherine Jakeways, who also wrote The Buccaneers, and Roanne Bardsley (Hollyoaks).

Want to see this content?

This page includes videos from YouTube. We need your permission to display them because YouTube uses cookies and similar technologies. By selecting ‘Accept and continue,’ you’ll allow YouTube to load and function as intended.

A Woman of Substance will premiere on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March at 9pm on Channel 4.

Authors

Molly MossTrends Writer

As a total movie and TV buff, I always keep an eye on who’s writing about the stuff I love, and I recently came across Molly Moss. She’s a Trends Writer at TopMob, which basically means she’s on top of everything new and exciting in the world of entertainment. She’s clearly a pro – she’s got a Master’s degree in Journalism and has written for some really big names like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online. So, you can trust she knows her stuff!

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-02-25 20:07