The eight-part series, based on the best-selling novel written by Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, will air on TVE this summer.
Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay Entertainment, announces that Spanish public broadcaster TVE has acquired hit British drama A Woman of Substance.
The eight-part series, based on the best-selling novel written by Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, will air on TVE this summer.
The deal comes as UK broadcaster Channel 4 has commissioned a second season of the drama following stand-out ratings success. Produced by The Forge Entertainment (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage), a Banijay UK company, season one was Channel 4 streaming’s most-watched drama in five years – with an average audience of three million per episode.
Meanwhile, Banijay Rights have also secured contemporary Italian drama Free Women (Libere Donne) for TVE. The psychological thriller, from Endemol Shine Italy and Rai Fiction and set during the Second World War, explores the fragility of perception and questions a woman’s sanity in a gripping story of justice, marriage and redemption.
Marion Vergnaud, SVP Sales, Iberia and Italy at Banijay Rights, said: “This deal with TVE highlights the strong appetite for engaging, character‑driven drama across key European markets and it’s great to be partnering once again and building on our long‑standing relationship. We’re pleased to see both titles connecting so well with audiences and continuing to gather momentum internationally.”
Global appetite for A Woman of Substance continues apace following its North American acquisition by BritBox as well as Foxtel and BINGE deals in Australia and a string of new territory wins including to TVNZ (New Zealand), NPO (The Netherlands), HRT (Croatia), YLE (Finland), ETV (Estonia), LTV (Latvia), COSMOTE TV (Greece), RUV (Iceland) and CellCom, HOT and YES in Israel.
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, Charlie Palmer is the producer.
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 and Free Women are part of a Banijay Rights scripted portfolio that includes global hits such as Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Rogue Heroes and the re-imagining of 1980s classic Bergerac.
