Actress to take the lead in reworking of iconic novel, 40 years after it was Channel 4’s biggest ever drama

Brenda Blethyn
Brenda quit Vera to reclaim her summers, but looks like she’ll be pretty busy this year(Image: ITV)

When Brenda Blethyn quit ITV’s Vera after 14 years she insisted she was not retiring – now the actress has signed up to play the “fierce” lead in A Woman of Substance. Brenda, 79, will take the lead in an eight-part adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s iconic novel for Channel 4 alongside Jessica Reynolds, who plays the younger version of main character Emma Harte.

The revenge romp drama previously aired on Channel 4 40 years ago, starring Deborah Kerr, and became the station’s biggest ever drama, also winning an Emmy nomination.

Set in 1911, the story follows impoverished but ambitious Yorkshire maid Emma as she embarks on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman. The character is also a daughter, mother, lover and fighter who refused to know her ‘place’, becoming a 20 th century feminist icon.

Brenda Blethyn
Brenda says she can’t wait to follow in the footsteps of Deborah Kerr, who starred in the 1984 version(Image: SCU)

On accepting the major new challenge, Brenda said: “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.”

Filming has kicked off in Yorkshire with the cast also including Emmett J Scanlan, Will Mellor as Adam Fairley, Lydia Leonard as Olivia Wainwright and Leanne Best as Adele Fairley,

The rags-to-riches tale shows Emma defying the lowly expectations that society has thrust upon her, leading her to fearlessly challenge the roles she’s given, smashing glass ceilings along the way.

Jessica, whose previous roles include Kneecap & the Wolf and The Fox & The Leopard, said the role was an “absolute dream” adding: “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.”

Jessica Reynolds
Jessica Reynold’s will play the young Emma, seen here as Malva Christie in Outlander

Channel 4 drama commissioning editor Rebecca Holdswoth said the “exceptional” scripts, from Katherine Takeaways and Roanne Bardsley would produce a “fresh, sexy and bold adaptation of an iconic book”.

After bowing out as Vera, Brenda told how she wanted to reclaim her summers and said: “On the last day I felt very emotional. It’s her packing up her stuff and backing out of the office and I could have cried to be honest. It’s so bittersweet because I’ve loved every minute of this job.”

The last ever scene of series 14, which aired in January based on Ann Cleeves’ 11th novel The Dark Wives, saw Vera walking across a beach with a smile on her face. A Woman of Substance is due to air on Channel 4 next year.