Remember when Rivals landed on Hulu and Disney+ in 2024 and we all thought it was the most scandalous, sex-filled TV show in years? Well, that was before A Woman of Substance came along.
With all eight episodes now streaming on Channel 4, the Barbara Taylor Bradford book-to-screen adaptation takes the so-called 'bonkbuster' in an entirely new direction.
Vera actress Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds portray Emma Harte in different stages of her life, a woman so scorned by a wealthy family in her youth that she dedicates her entire life to "bringing them down".
It's a scathing takedown of misogyny, class and power, and an incredibly steamy one at that. If, like me, you cannot wait for Rivals season 2 to return later in the spring, this is a no-brainer binge.
Why you need to stream A Woman of Substance on Channel 4 this week
Clearly, everybody in the 1980s was desperate to read a book filled with smut. The likes of Jackie Collins, Jilly Cooper (the mind behind Rivals) and Bradford each made that demand their MO for success, but in entirely opposing ways.
Where Collins focuses on the high-life social scene and Cooper on the equestrian community, Bradford honed in on class dynamics. All three authors have had their work adapted for film or TV, but there's something particularly special about A Woman of Substance.
Firstly, it's an homage to the original 80s mini-series that remains one of Channel 4's most-watched shows to this day. It was the first of its kind, bringing together dual narratives that ranged from the misty Yorkshire moors in the early 1900s and the glamorous city life of 80s New York.
When a show is able to seamlessly blend two strands of time without leaving you clueless, you know you've got gold. It's remarkably easy to believe Blethyn and Reynolds are the same person, able to flexibly adapt to the many conscious changes Emma makes to eventually become the world's richest woman.
Then, of course, there's the sex. Nothing is gratuitous — a rarity in this day and age — but there are no holds barred either. If anything, it all makes Rivals look like an episode of Sesame Street, just without the same moral compass.
If you’re not watching A Woman of Substance on Channel 4, you’re missing out. The best period drama I’ve watched in years. Outstanding performances from Jessica Reynolds, Lenny Rush, Leanne Best and many othersMarch 15, 2026
I guarantee you'll be hooked until the very last (emotional) scene, and it's more than enough to tide us over until the arrival of Rivals season 2 in May.
A Woman of Substance is available to stream on Channel 4 in the UK. US and Australian fans have two options: wait to it to hit a national streaming service, or use a VPN.
