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Season 1 – A Woman of Substance

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Season 1 – A Woman of Substance Mar 2026 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 13 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Charts the rags-to-riches rise of working-class Emma Harte from impoverished maid in early 1900s Yorkshire to 1970s business mogul ruling the New York skyline.

Critics Reviews

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John Anderson Wall Street Journal Jun 30
The people behind “A Woman of Substance” know what fans of Bradford and Emma are looking for. The series is tailored accordingly. Go to Full Review
Moira MacDonald Seattle Times Jun 23
While it veers from the book in a number of key plot points, it’s an enjoyably soapy wallow that will remind you of other and maybe better shows, but nonetheless keep you watching. Go to Full Review
Carol Midgley The Times (UK) Mar 17
As an escapist tale of a rise from poverty to great wealth, showing how entitlement makes people lazy and necessity is the mother of invention, it still does the business for me. Go to Full Review
Lara Kretler Pop Culture Leftovers 1d
If you’re a fan of strong female main characters and "girl power," you’ll love A Woman of Substance. By the end, I was so enamored with Emma that I plan to seek out the books to dive even deeper into her story. Go to Full Review
Victoria Luxford Collider Jun 24
6/10
A Woman of Substance may not hit the same heights as the best period dramas out there, but at its best, it offers some delicious intrigue that makes you eager to stick with it until the end. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Sally Y @RT57732363 Jul 5 So far removed from the books and original series and was ridiculous, so many story lines changed. Young Emma was weak and didn’t live up to the real character. The original series is now a bit outdated to watch but tells the story better. Bad acting all round really! See more Dr. S @Biomaven Jul 3 As a diehard romantic, I found this story to be heart warming and heart wrenching. Superb acting, and wonderful script. I highly recommend.! See more Kat T @Katrina724 Jun 16 Absolutely brilliant! Brilliant cast, excellent, edge of your seat plot and script. Not since Game of Thrones have I waited with such anticipation for the next weekly episode. And each week not only delivers, but it gets better! Girls, do yourself a favour and watch this series. You won't be disappointed. See more William Martin R @WilliamR. Apr 19 This show was absolutely fantastic! I couldn’t stop watching it, so I managed to catch all eight episodes this Sunday. While I doubt there will be a second season, I genuinely hope there will be! The casting is impeccable, and the storyline is captivating. It’s a unique blend of Dynasty, Downton Abbey, and Game of Thrones. The family dynamics are truly intriguing and ruthless! And my God, can we take a minute to appreciate Ewan Horrocks being cast as Edwin Fairley! Damn he is fine!!I’m so glad I spent eight hours of my life watching this show, and I hope there will be more to come. See more Wendy R @NuttyR Apr 15 I inevitably compared this to the original mini series and think the changes worked well. Deliciously hammy at times, it was a slow burn for me, but I was hooked by the time Emma made her front door entrance into Fairley Hall. I also loved the twist at the very end. Thoroughly enjoyable telly in the old Sunday night drama sense. See more Bondhona P @BonitaBondi Apr 6 Absolutely loved it! As a fan of the books, this series stayed so true to the actual book as it could and it has definitely delivered! See more Read all reviews
A Woman of Substance — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 11, 2026 Charts the rags-to-riches rise of Emma Harte from maid to business mogul; in the 1970s, Emma faces a coup from within her family empire, while in 1911, teenage Emma grapples with a forbidden romance. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 12, 2026 As young Emma and Edwin's forbidden love blossoms, she questions whether they can ever overcome their class differences; in the 1970s, Emma reckons with her children's plan to oust her from the Harte empire. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 18, 2026 Can Emma take Mac's offer to leave Fairley, and Edwin, for good?; meanwhile, Adele's sobriety re-ignites her marriage with Adam, which causes rifts in the Fairley household. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 19, 2026 A pregnant Emma establishes a new life for herself, while Edwin's fiancée Priya begins to ask questions; in the 1970s, Emma confronts her eldest daughter, Edwina, and discovers Paula's secret romance. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 25, 2026 Charts the rags-to-riches rise of working-class Emma Harte from impoverished maid in early 1900s Yorkshire to 1970s business mogul ruling the New York skyline. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 26, 2026 Charts the rags-to-riches rise of working-class Emma Harte from impoverished maid in early 1900s Yorkshire to 1970s business mogul ruling the New York skyline. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 1, 2026 Charts the rags-to-riches rise of working-class Emma Harte from impoverished maid in early 1900s Yorkshire to 1970s business mogul ruling the New York skyline. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 2, 2026 Charts the rags-to-riches rise of working-class Emma Harte from impoverished maid in early 1900s Yorkshire to 1970s business mogul ruling the New York skyline. Details
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Season Info

Director
John Hardwick, Richard Senior, Samantha Harrie
Executive Producer
Beth Willis, George Faber, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes
Screenwriter
Katherine Jakeways, Roanne Bardsley, Barbara Taylor Bradford
Network
BritBox
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Mar 11, 2026