RICHARD SENIOR - DIRECTOR
Rich directed three episodes of A Woman Of Substance, Channel 4's vibrant new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling dynastic saga. A rags to riches tale of ambition, power and revenge, it tells the story of Emma Harte, a downtrodden kitchen maid who becomes the world's richest woman. Produced by The Forge and filmed in Yorkshire during 2025, Rich helmed episodes 6 and 7 along with the climactic season finale.
★★★★★ - The Sun
"A brilliant rags-to-riches epic! Pour yourself a sherry and get bingeing" ★★★★★ - The Daily Mail
"Irresistible... high production values, whip-smart dialogue… confident cinematography" ★★★★ - The Telegraph
"wonderful, horny revenge drama... Rivals meets Poldark" - The Guardian
"engrossing... tremendous fun to watch" - Metro
"epic, sweeping, unironic TV" - Radio Times
"a terrific ride" - The Times
"a captivating saga" - The Observer
"a first-rate romp" - The Irish Times
"addictive... fingers crossed we'll get a return visit to Emma's compelling world" ★★★★★ - TV Times
"thrilling... the whole thing comes together, gloriously, in the twist-packed final episode" - The Independent
"a barnstorming finale... it's one of those times when you cheer at your screen" - Radio Times
TRAILER
Written by Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Brenda Blethyn, Jessica Reynolds, Lenny Rush, Will Mellor, Emmet Scanlan
CLIP CHRISTMAS EVE
Written by Katherine Jakeways
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds, Jeremy Neumark Jones, Alice Saxton
Emma works hard for her customers at the newly opened Harte's Emporium.
CLIP AN UNWELCOME GUEST
Written by Katherine Jakeways
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds, Harry Cadby
On a desperate mission to plead for more time to repay his gambling debts, Gerald Fairley visits the offices of the mysterious Hamilton Equitable. But when he discovers that the loan shark is none other than his family's nemesis Emma Harte, the encounter takes a dark turn as he attempts to re-assert his power over her.
CLIP THE AFTERMATH
Written by Katherine Jakeways
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds, Niall Wright, Philip Hill-Pearson, Ellie Mejia
Having been sexually assaulted by Gerald Fairley, Emma must return home to prepare Christmas dinner, but the appearance of yet more unexpected guests puts her under even more strain.
CLIP OFF TO WAR
Written by Roanne Bardsley
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds, Niall Wright, Philip Hill-Pearson, Emmet Scanlan, Ewan Horrocks, Hiftu Quasem
The outbreak of the First World War changes everyone's lives, regardless of class. Can they bear to say what may be the final goodbye?
CLIP THE PRESENTATION
Written by Roanne Bardsley
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds
Emma writes to her husband who fights for his country in the trenches. She must overcome the guilt of neglecting him before facing her fears of humiliation to win the crucial military uniform contract which she hopes will save her business.
CLIP THE MATRIARCH RETURNS
Written by Katherine Jakeways
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Brenda Blethyn, Tyrone Huntley, Rosie Cavaliero, Jo Joyner
In the 1970s, Emma Harte returns to Yorkshire to face her treacherous offspring.
CLIP REUNION
Written by Katherine Jakeways
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds, Ewan Horrocks, Harry Cadby, Ruby Hoggarth
Emma comes face to face with Edwin for the first time since her life-long vendetta began. Can she put her feelings aside to save both their businesses?
CLIP THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR
Written by Katherine Jakeways
Exec Produced by Beth Willis, Katherine Jakeways, Joe Innes, Roanne Bardsley
Starring Jessica Reynolds, Lenny Rush, Niall Wright, Everly Miller, Ellie Mejia, Emmet Scanlan, Ewan Horrocks, Harry Cadby, Hiftu Quasem, Robert Wilfort, Lydia Leonard
Distraught after learning that Edwin plans to betray her, Emma gets inspiration from an unlikely source before heading to Fairley Hall for the final showdown.
