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Remake of A woman of substance

(99 Posts)
Cossy Fri 16-Jan-26 13:37:05

I like this book and the mini series staring Jenny Seabrook is being re-made starring Brenda Blethyn in the main role and Jo Joyner as her daughter, two of my favourite actors and will look forward to it.

Main role shared so BB only place the older role.

Jenthehen Fri 13-Mar-26 18:27:13

Agree about Liam Neeson, would live to meet him

ferry23 Fri 13-Mar-26 18:06:17

StTrinians

Have to watch it now after following the above thread. (Incidentally, current remake drama trend seems to be for rather dark, gothic remakes along the lines of Poldark, Rebecca and other novels, even the Jungle Book! Lol ;)

It would be difficult to think of anyone whose books are so wildly unsuited to dark and gothic than Barbara Taylor-Bradford!

A bit like the Famous Five turning into the Corleone family from The Godfather.

StTrinians Fri 13-Mar-26 17:25:02

Have to watch it now after following the above thread. (Incidentally, current remake drama trend seems to be for rather dark, gothic remakes along the lines of Poldark, Rebecca and other novels, even the Jungle Book! Lol ;)

Kitty55 Fri 13-Mar-26 16:13:49

Oh Fleur20 you did make me laugh. I haven’t seen it but must watch it now.

Madwoman11 Fri 13-Mar-26 16:04:55

I'm really enjoying it

Mauduit24 Fri 13-Mar-26 16:04:35

Cossy

I like this book and the mini series staring Jenny Seabrook is being re-made starring Brenda Blethyn in the main role and Jo Joyner as her daughter, two of my favourite actors and will look forward to it.

Main role shared so BB only place the older role.

I too loved the book and the original series with Jenny Seagrove and Liam neeson in it .
It’s a great shame from the first episode that there are glaring errors in it that bare no relevance to the original book.
I’m glad that Barbara Taylor Bradford & her husband Bob aren’t here to witness this .

GrannyGravy13 Fri 13-Mar-26 15:32:22

Toetoe

Oh , why oh why do we have to have these full on sex scenes ,just not necessary. I am watching but having watched the original drama I prefer that . I would be horrified if my young granchildren were watching with me . Not necessary

It is on at 9pm which is the watershed surely young grandchildren will be in bed by then 🤷‍♀️

BeatlesNo1fan Fri 13-Mar-26 15:13:54

Agree.

Emeraldforest Fri 13-Mar-26 15:03:49

I'm loving it, and the clothes are beautiful.

Toetoe Fri 13-Mar-26 15:00:42

Oh , why oh why do we have to have these full on sex scenes ,just not necessary. I am watching but having watched the original drama I prefer that . I would be horrified if my young granchildren were watching with me . Not necessary

ferry23 Fri 13-Mar-26 14:55:08

Delene100

Liam Neeson was in the old version.
I watched the Jenny Seagrave version last week and still enjoyed it. Read the book years ago. Looking forward to this updated version. Recorded it a few days ago but haven't watched it yet. I like to make thee episodes mount up so I can binge watch in one weekend.

You can stream all episodes on the Channel 4 app. No need to wait!

Delene100 Fri 13-Mar-26 14:38:25

Liam Neeson was in the old version.
I watched the Jenny Seagrave version last week and still enjoyed it. Read the book years ago. Looking forward to this updated version. Recorded it a few days ago but haven't watched it yet. I like to make thee episodes mount up so I can binge watch in one weekend.

TiggyW Fri 13-Mar-26 14:31:02

I was looking forward to ‘A Woman of Substance’ after all the hype, since I never watched the original version.
I usually like the family saga-type stories, but the sex scenes are a def turn off. Obviously there was no contraception available then, but I’m sure women knew how not to get pregnant! 🙄 None of the male actors is attractive, apart from the blacksmith. There are def echoes of ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Upstairs Downstairs’.
Does anyone remember an Australian family saga called ‘The Dirtwater Dynasty’? I thought it was brilliant - lots of plot twists, and, as far as I remember, not many sex scenes, if any! It starred Hugo Weaving, who went on to appear in the Matrix films.

Gfplux Fri 13-Mar-26 14:11:22

It is dreadful.

meddijess Fri 13-Mar-26 13:57:06

I was really looking forward to this, but what a disappointment. The acting is dire, and when the wife appeared in a so not Edwardian style off-the-shoulder black dress, we gave up. At least I got to see Brenda Blethyn at the beginning - a local Ramsgate girl!

Ampersand Fri 13-Mar-26 13:55:38

To all Brenda Blethyn fans I thoroughly recommend the 2000 film Saving Grace

www.imdb.com/title/tt0195234/mediaviewer/rm1496590081/?ref_=tt_ov_i

ferry23 Fri 13-Mar-26 13:39:29

My recollections are not of Fairley senior having sex alternately with his wife and her sister, or the older son trying to have sex with anyone. I don't remember either the book or the original the adaptation being so sexually driven. Characters lost or completely changed. And much as I like Brenda Blethyn as an actress, I don't think this role works for her.

mae13 Fri 13-Mar-26 05:17:26

Re-makes are overwhelmingly a huge mistake. It's extremely rare for them to be anywhere near the quality of the original but the powers-that-be can't help themselves from trying to mine the lucrative seam that spawned the original production.

Re-makes are driven by naked greed. And these days are typically hallmarked by wokery and twee political correctness.

I'm waiting for a remake of 'Mutiny On The Bounty' with Whoopi Goldberg in the role of Capt. Bligh.

Catterygirl Thu 12-Mar-26 23:59:49

Only watched one episode of Vera. It was good but not my thing. Liking Brenda in this.
I think I read the book back in the day but definitely watched the TV series. Can’t remember it. Just know that it was good.

BeatlesNo1fan Thu 12-Mar-26 22:47:41

I dislike Brenda Blethyn's voice and no matter how glam she is in this she looks like Vera Drake in drag! It's an easy unmemorable watch that even DP is enjoying.

Basgetti Thu 12-Mar-26 19:57:16

And Rosie Cavaliero has just appeared! My cup runneth over. I love her almost as much as I do Brenda.

Basgetti Thu 12-Mar-26 19:53:41

I guess love is blind 🤷‍♀️

Basgetti Thu 12-Mar-26 19:53:11

Quite enjoying it, tbh. Not sure why the awful reviews. The 70s scenes are a bit cheesy but the origin story is pretty good.
Loved the original though have to admit I was completely baffled by the talented, gorgeous Jenny Seagrove’s choice of boyfriend for 5 years. 🤮

MollyNew Thu 12-Mar-26 18:42:41

I watched the first 30 minutes but I couldn't get interested in it so I won't be watching any more. The background music was irritating too.

ferry23 Thu 12-Mar-26 18:37:17

Bukkie

Brenda Blethyn and Jo Joyner are actresses not actors.

Or maybe they are "actpersons" and maybe people with very dark hair are now nicknamed "peoplewithverydarkhairie".

grin

The world gets more ridiculous by the day.