Channel 4 will be showing A Woman of Substance tomorrow night after a delay. Starring Jessica Reynolds and Brenda Blethyn as Emma Harte, how well has this new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s popular novel been received by reviewers?
Written by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, the series tells the story of Emma’s life, from a difficult childhood in 1910s Yorkshire to a life of wealth in New York City.
So, they’re doing another version of Bradford’s story! I remember the old miniseries from ’85, and this new one kicks off on Channel 4 this Wednesday at 9pm. They’re dropping episodes back-to-back, so the second one is on Thursday at the same time. I’m definitely setting a reminder!

I’ve been following the early reviews for this new period drama, and it sounds really promising! Metro especially liked how the main character grew throughout the story, though they did wish we’d seen a bit more of Brenda Blethyn on screen.
People find Emma to be a wonderful character – she’s independent, resourceful, and has a talent for charming those who think they’re better than her. It’s really enjoyable to watch. Reynolds is incredibly charismatic, and her Yorkshire accent is perfect.
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Fans of Vera Stanhope might be let down, as the actress who plays her, Brenda Blethyn, doesn’t have a large role in this season. And when she is on screen, her stories aren’t as exciting as the ones unfolding in the historical flashbacks.
Overall, reviewers considered the show’s flaws to be small issues. They believe fans of the Disney+ series Rivals will enjoy this exciting story of revenge, and praised it as a strong follow-up to the original, describing it as captivating.

The Financial Times thought the show was a bit of a letdown, calling it a “missed opportunity.” However, they did enjoy it, comparing it to shows like Downton Abbey and Dallas and describing it as “perfectly watchable.”
The show features a strong supporting cast including Emmett J Scanlan, Will Mellor, and Lenny Rush. In a previous version of the story, Jenny Seagrove and Deborah Kerr both played the character of Emma, and a young Liam Neeson also made an appearance.
A Woman of Substance premieres on Channel 4 on Wednesday at 9pm.
Okay, so the latest issue of Living Legends magazine just dropped, and it’s ALL about Harry Styles! It’s a huge 100-page, full-color spread – seriously, it looks amazing. You can grab a copy at any newsstand or order it online. As a huge fan, I’m definitely getting one!
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2026-03-10 20:20