There has been plenty of excitement surrounding the arrival of A Woman of Substance to BritBox, as it joins the latest spin-off of Jane Austen‘s Pride & Prejudice, The Other Bennet Sister, debuting this Wednesday, June 24. But, as is the case with most BritBox shows, A Woman of Substance has already made its debut across the pond, as UK viewers have already been able to indulge in the second Channel 4 adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford‘s beloved novel.
But how has this debut been received? Well, after much anticipation, A Woman of Substance has officially become Channel 4‘s most-streamed drama since It’s a Sin, the award-winning series from outgoing Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies. The original adaptation from Channel 4, which aired in 1985, remains the channel’s most-watched show of all time. Two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn stars in the series as the beloved Emma Harte, marking her return to TV after solving her last Northumberland crime in Vera. She stars opposite Outlander‘s Jessica Reynolds, who plays a younger version of the character.
So, with such impressive initial viewing figures, will we be seeing more of Emma Harte? The answer is yes, with it confirmed today in a new report that A Woman of Substance has been officially renewed for a second season. Blethyn and Reynolds have been confirmed to return for the second season, with Katherine Jakeways returning to write Season 2 alongside her The Buccaneers crewmate, Roanne Bardsley. In a statement, the pair said:
“We couldn’t be more delighted to be back with our beloved Emma Harte. The higher she climbs, the greater the risks, and we’re looking forward to more of everything we adore – heart-soaring romance, gut-wrenching loss, and of course, delicious revenge.”
What Will ‘A Woman of Substance’ Season 2 Be About?
After earning widespread praise from British critics, illustrated by an impressive 89% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, A Woman of Substance Season 2 will have a high bar to live up to. But it will do this by raising the stakes, with Channel 4 interim drama boss Gwawr Lloyd saying the second season will “continue Emma’s story with all the ambition, drama and family intrigue that made A Woman of Substance such a compelling and irresistible watch.”
Split into eight episodes, Season 2 will follow Harte as she leaves the Great War behind and looks forward to the sparkling 1920s. “Her ambition for the Harte name is unrelenting, as is her determination to make the Fairley family pay. Meanwhile in the 1970s, she battles to win back her life’s work from Jim Fairley,” a synopsis reads.
A Woman of Substance will premiere on June 24 on BritBox.
via Collider