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Brenda Blethyn's A Woman of Substance sparks backlash as viewers say same thing

Brenda Blethyn stars in Channel 4's adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's classic novel A Woman of Substance, but the series has sparked mixed reactions from viewers.

[Brenda as Emma in the back of a car]

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Brenda Blethyn's new period drama has had mixed reviews(Image: Channel 4)

Brenda Blethyn's newest television project, A Woman of Substance, has arrived on screens, though the adaptation hasn't won universal approval. The Channel 4 drama brings Barbara Taylor Bradford's iconic bestseller to life, with the cherished Vera star taking on the role of the mature Emma Harte.

Whilst the actress depicts the character as a formidable businesswoman, the opening episode explored Emma's origins as a young servant (portrayed by Jessica Reynolds).

Despite the rags-to-riches tale ranking amongst the 10 bestselling novels ever published, having shifted over 91 million copies worldwide, viewers swiftly voiced their concerns on social media.

On X/Twitter, one disappointed watcher abandoned the programme, posting: "#awomanofsubstance I think I might just read the book again instead."

Another spotted a significant alteration and protested: "Mac? MAC?!! His name isn't Mac. It's Blackie! Because of his black hair. Good grief!"

[Brenda Blethyn in A Woman of Substance]

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Channel 4 viewers were left unimpressed by the new period-drama(Image: Channel 4)

A third agreed: "Shane O'Neill (originally played by Liam Neeson ) is now mysteriously nicknamed 'Mac', not Blackie. Weird and unnecessary."

Meanwhile, another audience member asked: "Where is her brother Winston? Paul isn't listed in the cast either. I hope they haven't changed too much. Might have to watch the Jenny Seagrove version instead."

A fifth added: "I have read all the books in the Harte series and watched the original TV mini series, so I will give this one a chance, but where is Winston?"

[A Woman of Substance star Jessica Reynolds]

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Jessica Reynolds stars as the younger version of Emma Harte in the series(Image: Channel 4)

Despite the backlash, A Woman of Substance has also garnered admirers, with one fan taking to social media to commend the premiere as a "good first episode"

While another shared: "Brilliant...absolutely brilliant @Mellor76 & Everyone done so well, me & Mum really enjoyed this. Well worth watching."

[A Woman of Substance cast welcomes House of Guinness legend]

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Will Mellor stars in the Channel 4 series(Image: CHANNEL 4)

The series will chart Emma's journey from humble beginnings as an impoverished servant, driven by grand ambitions, which she is forced to pursue following a string of tragic events, reports the Express.

The period drama will then leap forward to the 1970s, where Emma stands as a formidable tycoon at the helm of her own global business empire.

This isn't Bradford's debut on the small screen; the initial adaptation of A Woman of Substance aired on Channel 4 in 1985, starring Jenny Seagrove, but only lasted for three episodes.

In contrast to the original series, the latest version boasts eight episodes that will traverse time to unravel Emma's tale.

A Woman of Substance is available to watch on Channel 4.

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