The Forge’s new Channel 4 drama was sold to BritBox in North America, Foxtel & BINGE in Australia, and other global broadcasters.
Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, today announces that BritBox has acquired the North American streaming rights for the major brand-new adaptation of A Woman of Substance, amid a raft of global acquisitions brokered ahead of this week’s London TV Screenings.
Produced by The Forge (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage), a Banijay UK company, for Channel 4 in the UK, this revenge romp is a re-imagining of the multi-million bestselling novel and global phenomenon written by Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE. BritBox has acquired the eight-part series in a deal negotiated by Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Acquisitions and Coproductions, Banijay Rights.
Matt Creasey said: “BritBox is the perfect North American home for this bold new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s classic story which follows Emma Harte’s extraordinary rags-to-riches journey. We’re in no doubt this premium drama will captivate global audiences in what has been an incredible sales effort from the Banijay Rights team.”
Beth Willis, Executive Producer, The Forge, said: “We are so thrilled the BritBox audience will get to enjoy the iconic Emma Harte and her universal story in A Woman of Substance, thanks to the support and brilliance of Banijay Rights.”
In a major acquisition in Australia, Foxtel and BINGE will be the exclusive home of the series, while TVNZ in New Zealand, NPO in The Netherlands, Cellcom TV Plus in Israel, COSMOTE TV in Greece, and RUV in Iceland have also acquired the show in agreements struck by the Banijay Rights sales team.
A Woman of Substance stars Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Little Voice) and Jessica Reynolds (House of Guinness, Outlander) as the two versions of the iconic character Emma Harte – a housemaid turned-mogul, daughter, mother, lover, fighter and a 20th century feminist icon who refused to know her place. The series finds Emma in 1911, 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. 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.
The drama is written by Katherine Jakeways (The Buccaneers) and co-written by Roanne Bardsley (The Buccaneers, Screw). Executive producers are Beth Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber, Katherine Jakeways and The Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust. Roanne Bardsley is co-executive producer, and Charlie Palmer is the producer. John Hardwick directed block one, Samantha Harrie block two and Richard Senior block three. A Woman of Substance was commissioned for Channel 4 by Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, and Gwawr Lloyd, Acting Head of Drama.
A Woman of Substance forms part of Banijay Rights’ slate of premium scripted series to be showcased to international buyers at Banijay Entertainment’s London TV Screenings event at BAFTA on 25th February.
