Calling all Brenda Blethyn fans! Channel 4 has just released the trailer for A Woman of Substance, an upcoming period drama based on Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE’s 1979 novel that became a “global phenomenon”.

The last adaptation of the book, starring Jenny Seagrove and Deborah Kerr, landed in 1984 and earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Series. This new adaptation sees Vera‘s Brenda and House of Guinness‘s Jessica Reynolds step into the shoes of protagonist Emma Harte in a new “revenge romp” that will continue to resonate with audiences today.

The new series, which was filmed in Yorkshire, is produced by The Forge Entertainment (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage), and is co-written by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley.

Intrigued? Keep reading for all you need to know about the new series…

What happens in the trailer for A Woman of Substance?

In the trailer, we get a first look at Brenda’s Emma, donning a flashy pair of sunglasses complete with a neck scarf and a trench. “What I’ve dedicated my life to… is revenge,” she declares.

woman in cream trench coat and glasses© Splash News
Brenda during filming

The clip then rewinds to a younger version of Emma, played by Jessica, who speaks with a strong Yorkshire accent and works as a maid at a Downton Abbey-style countryside estate.

“All of this ambition, you must be careful,” a woman tells Emma, who gets increasingly frustrated with her life and job as a maid and seeks to rise to the very top.

What is A Woman of Substance about?

The story centres around Emma Harte and follows a dual timeline of her life as she starts out as an impoverished yet ambitious housemaid in Yorkshire, England.

close up of young woman standing in field© Channel 4/The Forge/Sam Taylor
Jessica Reynolds plays a young Emma Harte

The synopsis continues: “Emma 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.”

Who stars in A Woman of Substance?

Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Pride and Prejudice) and Jessica Reynolds (House of Guinness, Kneecap) both star as Emma Harte, a housemaid turned mogul and “20th century feminist icon”.

BRENDA BLETHYN as DCI Vera Stanhope© Helen Williams
Brenda Blethyn played DCI Vera Stanhope

They’re joined by 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) as Adele Fairley, Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom, Domina) as Edwin Fairley, Harry Cadby (In Flight, Everything Now) as Gerald Fairley and Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Line of Duty) as Jack Harte.

Supporting cast members include Niall Wright (Hope Street, Slow Horses) as Mac, Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable, Doctor Who) as Frank Harte, Robert Wilfort (Gavin and Stacey, Wolf Hall) as Murgatroyd and Toby Regbo (Belgravia, A Discovery of Witches) as Jim Fairley.

Rounding out the cast are 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.

A release date has not yet been announced, but we’ll hopefully get to see this one hit screens soon!