Eight-Part Series Based on Barbara Taylor Bradford Novel to Premiere June 24 in Canada and the U.S.
BritBox has released the official trailer and key art for its upcoming original drama series A Woman of Substance, marking another major investment in premium British programming for North American audiences.
The eight-episode period drama will premiere on June 24 in Canada and the United States, debuting with two episodes before shifting to a weekly release schedule. The series is based on Barbara Taylor Bradford’s best-selling novel of the same name and follows the life of Emma Harte, a determined Yorkshire maid who rises from poverty to become a powerful international business figure.
“Today, BritBox revealed the official trailer and key art for A Woman of Substance, premiering on June 24 in the U.S. and Canada,” the streaming platform said in a statement announcing the launch.
The production continues BritBox’s strategy of expanding its slate of high-profile British dramas as competition intensifies across the global streaming sector.
Period Drama Chronicles Rise of a Business Mogul
Set across six decades, A Woman of Substance traces Emma Harte’s journey from working-class hardship in early 20th-century England to becoming one of the world’s wealthiest women by the 1970s.
According to BritBox, the series “is an epic period drama spanning six decades, charting the rise of Emma Harte from penniless Yorkshire maid in the early 1900s to powerful 1970s business mogul.”
The storyline explores themes of ambition, social mobility and female empowerment against the backdrop of war, economic change and shifting gender expectations.
“Through love, loss, war, and unrelenting ambition, Emma amasses power, outwits rivals, and shapes her own destiny,” the company said.
The series further describes Emma as “an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England, who goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse.”
BritBox positioned the drama as both a character-driven story and a broader reflection on women navigating societal constraints during the 20th century.
“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.”
Veteran Cast Leads High-Profile Adaptation
The production stars Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds as older and younger versions of Emma Harte, respectively.
Blethyn is widely recognized for her roles in Vera and Little Voice, while Reynolds is known for appearances in House of Guinness and Outlander.
“The series stars Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Little Voice) and Jessica Reynolds (House of Guinness, Outlander) as the two versions of the iconic character Emma Harte,” BritBox stated.
Supporting Cast Features Established British Talent
The ensemble cast includes several established British television actors, including Emmett J. Scanlan, Lydia Leonard, Leanne Best, Ewan Horrocks, Harry Cadby, Will Mellor, Lenny Rush, Niall Wright, Robert Wilfort, Mara Huf and Toby Regbo.
Behind the camera, the series was created, written and executive produced by Katherine Jakeways. Roanne Bardsley co-wrote and co-executive produced the production, while Beth Willis, Joe Innes and George Faber served as executive producers for The Forge Entertainment.
“The Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust also executive produces,” the company noted.
Directing duties were split among John Hardwick, Samantha Harrie and Richard Senior across the eight-episode production.
BritBox Expands Premium British Content Strategy
The launch of A Woman of Substance reflects BritBox’s continued focus on prestige British storytelling as streaming services compete for subscribers through exclusive original programming.
The series will stream on BritBox in North America under a distribution agreement with Banijay Rights, which oversees international sales for the production.
“The series will stream on BritBox in North America following a deal with Banijay Rights, which handles international distribution,” the statement said.
BritBox, launched in 2017 and now owned by BBC Studios, has expanded its footprint across several international markets, including Canada, the United States, Australia and Nordic countries.
The streaming platform describes itself as “the leading streaming destination for the best of British television,” offering dramas, mysteries, comedies, documentaries and lifestyle programming tailored to audiences seeking British-produced content.
With A Woman of Substance, BritBox is betting that large-scale literary adaptations and period dramas will continue to resonate with North American viewers looking for premium serialized storytelling rooted in British television traditions.