
Brenda Blethyn lands first major role since Vera ended – and it's world's away from iconic TV detective
BRENDA Blethyn has wasted no time swapping police badges for something completely different - bagging her first major role since quitting Vera.
The beloved actress, 78, is set to star in a
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Double Oscar-nominee Brenda Blethyn will play the older Emma Harte in the rebooted A Woman of Substance
Credit: Getty
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It's her first major role since quitting Vera
Credit: ITV
Channel 4 has signed up a Hollywood legend and a rising star for its glitzy new remake of
The Woman Of Substance charts the jaw-dropping rise of a poor Yorkshire maid who claws her way to the top - ending up the richest woman on the planet, ruling her empire from a swanky New York penthouse.
The rags-to-riches saga is being rebooted 40 years after Channel 4's first version - which starred Jenny Seagrove and still holds the crown as the
The brains behind Apple TV hit The Buccaneers, Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, are on script duty for the new series.
read more on vera
The glitzy remake is being produced by Banijay-backed The Forge, with former Channel 4 drama chief Beth Willis serving as executive producer.
Brenda said: 'I'm overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role, in the footsteps of the great Deborah Kerr.
"As a fan of Barbara Taylor-Bradford, it is an unmissable opportunity to play the fierce Emma Harte.'
Most read in Drama
While rising star Jessica Reynolds, fresh from a breakout role in indie smash Kneecap and Outlander Season 6, will play the younger Emma.
The original three-part saga starred Liam Neeson with
Vera's Brenda Blethyn confirms she's already landed her next role after quitting ITV drama
Its finale pulled in Channel 4's highest audience of 13.8 million viewers and received two Emmy nominations.
A Woman of Substance has sold an incredible 30 million copies since its release four decades ago.
Barbara Taylor Bradford
She passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday 24 November following a brief illness.
Crime dramas on ITVX
Crime drama buffs have a wide selection of choices on ITVX - here is a selection of some of the programmes available to binge.
Professor T:
Based on a Belgian TV series of the same name, former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller plays the title character. Professor Jasper Tempest is a criminologist with OCD who helps the police solve crimes. The cast also includes Emma Naomi, Barney White and Andy Gathergood.
This series follows a mother's grief for her son, who was killed in an accident. Nicholas Blake's novel of the same name has been adapted for the programme. Stars include Cush Jumbo, Jared Harris, Billy Howle and Geraldine James.
Red Eye:
Starring Richard Armitage, Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp star in this six-part thriller, which mostly takes place during an all-night flight between London and Beijing. With dead bodies piling up and a mystery to unravel, the heroes must work fast to get to the truth.
This Australian drama originally aired as a miniseries in 2022, with the episodes dropping in the UK in February 2023. Four months later, the show was renewed for a second season. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill stars in the leading role of barrister Brett Colby.
Martin Clunes stars in this drama based on true murder investigations. Series one focused on the death of Amélie Delagrange, which took place in 2004, while the second depicted the search for serial rapist Delroy Grant.
Charlie Redmayne, CEO of HarperCollins Publishers UK, said: 'Barbara Taylor Bradford was a truly exceptional writer whose first book, the international bestseller A Woman of Substance changed the lives of so many who read it - and still does to this day.
"She was a natural storyteller, deeply proud of her Yorkshire roots - she would regale us of her time working on the Yorkshire Evening Post with fellow reporter Keith Waterhouse and trainee photographer Peter O'Toole, the dawn of the Soho café society, and the many happy years shared with the love of her life, her husband, Bob.
"For 45 years, she was a huge part of our company and a great, great friend - we will miss her so much - but there is some solace in the knowledge that she is now, once again, alongside her beloved Bob. A life well-lived.'
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Rising star Jessica Reynolds will play the younger version of the iconic character.
Credit: Getty
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Brenda said: 'I'm overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role"
Credit: Getty
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The series is based on the best-selling book from the late Barbara Taylor Bradford
Credit: REX
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The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Why Helena and Harry's shotgun trip to The Hideaway means Love Island's rediscovered its sex factor
CALL me a voyeur, but I'm a 40-year-old, married woman who is hot under the collar at the idea lust is back on Love Island. The Sun told yesterday how two of this year's intake Advertisement 6 Blonde cabin crew Helena Ford enjoyed a sleepover in the Hideaway Credit: itv 6 Semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley is now coupled up with another Islander Credit: itv It's even juicier because - officially - both blonde cabin crew Helena Ford and semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley are coupled up with other Islanders. Of course it helps that both are cut straight from the Barbie and Ken mould, with matching abs, glowing tans and designer locks. So when I heard from my source that the pin-up pairing had snuck away on Monday to That's not because I get my kicks watching twenty-somethings frolic in a Majorcan villa - honest, Mr Cross. Advertisement READ MORE ON LOVE ISLAND It's because it was the early sign of promise that sex might just be back on Love Island after years of celibacy. Bold choice too far Let me lead you astray, back to 2015 when the ITV dating series first plunged a group of youngsters into a luxury villa and encouraged them to find, ahem, love. The series' main characters were John Lee and Hannah Elizabeth, who weren't afraid to get down to it in the communal bedroom. Despite Michelle and Stuart, then Makosi and Anthony engaging in a public PDA on Big Brother in 2004 and 2005 respectively, such bold antics felt entirely new to TV viewers and split the nation. Advertisement Most read in Love Island Comment But nothing prepared the pearl clutchers for what happened a year on. The entire cast let rip, with eight couples going all the way - usually in the shared bedroom - which was all fun and games until ITV bosses took two specific editorial decisions too far. Love Island fans spot clue islander is 'faking' claim he has never shared a bed with a girl Beauty queen Zara Holland was stripped of her Miss GB title after having sex with Alex Bowen in the Hideaway in 2016. The judges were said to have been particularly offended by a scene which saw her visibly enjoying the act. Advertisement Then, another late night scene showed Emma-Jane Woodham on top of It was a bold choice too far - even after the 9pm watershed - and viewers rushed to Ofcom. That was the end of sex on Love Island as we knew it and from then on, execs took the decision to instead show a shaking bedside lamp or tangled pair of feet. And in recent years the Instagram career-focussed cast and media trained Islanders have abstained entirely. 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Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
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The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
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