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1984 – · Series · 1h 35m

A Woman of Substance

CriticsCritics: 81
AudienceAudience: 7.3

The life of Emma Harte, from kitchen maid at the beginning of the 20th-century, to respected businesswoman and grandmother in the 1980s. From humble beginnings, Emma Harte starts her business with a small shop, but over the next twenty years, she expands her stores and invests in the growing textile industry in Leeds.

My take

Arlo here—this sweeping 1984 miniseries follows Emma Harte's epic journey from Yorkshire maid to retail empire magnate, spanning decades of ambition, love, and ruthless determination. It's a lavish portrait of one woman's rise through cunning and grit, set against the backdrop of 20th-century social transformation. Perfect for those craving sprawling saga storytelling with real emotional weight.

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Where to watch

Cast

Christopher CazenoveDeborah KerrDominic GuardFiona FullertonJames SaitoJenny SeagroveLiam NeesonLindsay Wagner

Director

Don Sharp

If tonight is a A Woman of Substance night…

…these live in the same corner of my head.

Want one picked out for tonight?

Tell me what kind of night it is — I'll do the rest.