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A Woman of Substance season 2: Release date speculation and latest news
We now have confirmation about the future of A Woman of Substance.
Channel 4
- Morgan Cormack
Published: Monday, 22 June 2026 at 4:00 pm
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*Warning: This article contains full spoilers for A Woman of Substance.*
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It may have just been a few months since Channel 4's A Woman of Substance aired but now, we finally know the verdict on its future.
The series became Channel 4 streaming’s most-watched drama in five years (since It’s a Sin), with an average audience of 3 million per episode. So, the future was looking bright for the adaptation series – and now it's been confirmed that it's returning for season 2.
The end of the finale saw viewers with more questions than answers as in both timelines, Jessica Reynolds and Brenda Blethyn delivered triumphant speeches, with war-time Emma confronting the Fairley's and '70s Emma squaring up to her traitorous children.
But it was in the show's final moments that it was revealed that all the hard work that Emma had put into making sure the Fairley's would never again take control over Fairley Hall was undone as Jim (Tony Regbo) made another unwelcome appearance.
But when will the second season of A Woman of Substance land on our screens? Read on for everything we know so far.
Will there be A Woman of Substance season 2?
Brenda Blethyn as Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance. Channel 4
Yes! Channel 4 has officially renewed A Woman of Substance for a second season.
On the announcement of the show's renewal, Gwawr Lloyd, interim head of Channel 4 drama, said: “Following the incredible success and popularity of the brilliant first series, we’re thrilled to be bringing the incomparable and iconic Emma Harte back to Channel 4 again. Series two will continue Emma’s story with all the ambition, drama and family intrigue that made A Woman of Substance such a compelling and irresistible watch.
"I’d like to thank writers Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, who I’m delighted to say are returning to pen the second series, alongside executive producers Beth Willis and Joe Innes from The Forge Entertainment for their commitment to the show.
"I’d also like to thank Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds for bringing Emma Harte to life with such passion, along with all the cast who ensured that series one captured the audience’s hearts.”
At a screening for the first season, series co-writer Roanne Bardsley had revealed that they'd not even adapted the whole book for the show yet. That means that with some of the book still left unaccounted for and with season 1 ending on a cliffhanger, there's plenty left to unpack.
When will A Woman of Substance season 2 be released?
No release date has yet been confirmed for A Woman of Substance season 2.
However, filming for the second instalment is set to kick off later this year so we can anticipate news on that front to be delivered in due course.
Seeing as casting for season 1 was announced in early 2025 and the series was then released in early 2026, there was quite the quick turnaround for the series to hit our screens. Therefore, we could imagine that we'd see season two on our screens sometime next year in 2027.
Who could star in A Woman of Substance season 2?
Jessica Reynolds as Emma Harte and Ewan Horrocks as Edwin Fairley in A Woman of Substance. Channel 4
It appears as though the series will continue its dual timeline as it's been confirmed that co-leads Jessica Reynolds and Brenda Blethyn will be reprising their roles as Emma Harte for season 2.
No other casting announcements for season 2 have yet been made but we'd certainly anticipate that both Paula (Mara Huf) and Jim (Tony Regbo) would be returning, seeing as they're about to embark on a major new chapter.
In the description for season 2, it also references a new character, Paul McGill, so we'll have to keep our eyes peeled on who will be playing him as all we know about him thus far is that he's "infuriatingly charismatic".
Seeing as we didn't actually see much of Emma's children or know much about them (and who their fathers are), we'd hope to see more of them, especially as Jo Joyner and Rosie Cavaliero are just two of the Harte's. So, with not many scenes of them at all, we'd hope to see a lot more about their own stories.
Even though it's not the focal point of the series, we'd also expect to see the Fairley family story continuing, meaning we'd be seeing more of Edwin and Priya as they navigate parenthood.
Some people who we definitely wouldn't be seeing in a potential season 2 (unless in further flashbacks) would be Leanne Best's Adele Fairley, Will Mellor's Jack Harte and Sophie Bould's Elizabeth Harte, all of whom died in season 1.
What will happen in A Woman of Substance season 2?
Mara Huf as Paula in A Woman of Substance. Channel 4
A description for A Woman of Substance season 2 reads: "In this new series, we rejoin the unstoppable Emma Harte as she emerges from World War I and strides into the glittering, fast changing world of the 1920s. Emma's ambition for the Harte name is unrelenting, as is her determination to make the Fairley family pay.
"But she has passion to contend with, in the form of the infuriatingly charismatic Paul McGill, and she'll also endure devasting loss and face unexpected betrayals from those she holds most dear.
"Meanwhile in the 1970s, Emma battles to win back her life’s work from Jim Fairley. It’s one thing to reach the top, and another to stay there…"
In the '70s timeline, Emma confronted her lying family and bought them out with individual cheques but also revealed to her daughter Edwina (Rosie Cavaliero) that her real father was Edwin Fairley. She seemed quite overjoyed at that news so it's likely that she'd endeavour to find him and may form an allegiance there with the family.
Emma signed over her businesses to granddaughter Paula (Mara Huf), thinking she was the only one to be trusted but actually, she revealed she'd married Jim Fairley and was pregnant with his child. That means that despite her best efforts, Emma's plans of keeping Fairley Hall seem quashed now that he's an official part of the family and entitled to Paula's inheritance. Of course, it could be the case that Paula was smart enough to ensure that wouldn't be the case or that Emma has some kind of way of rescinding the contract but something tells us it'll be complicated.
As for young Emma, we saw that she confronted all of the Fairley's about the pain they've caused her and she bought Fairley Hall after securing the major army uniform contract. Edwin vowed to get his revenge on her so we'd assume that if a second season were to go ahead, we'd have those years in the middle filled in a little more.
How do the Fairley's survive this catastrophe and with no money to their name, how do they cope? With Priya (Hiftu Quasem) having a baby on the way and Edwin taking control over the family's business, we can assume that all the stress is put on his shoulders. We do know that Jim does end up working for a magazine that needs help, something that Emma initially says she'll see to after he lets her know about her children's coup of the business. So, does that mean that the Fairley's end up building their own media company perhaps?
We also know that Mac ends up closer than ever to Emma, but does that mean that the pair develop a romantic connection and he's actually the father of her other children?
Of course, A Woman of Substance is just the first book in Barbara Taylor Bradford's novel series, with the sequel, Hold the Dream, all about Paula's taking over of the company. If the show were to go in that direction, then it's certainly been set up aptly but as for whether it'll continue to include the past timeline of Emma's and the Fairley's, that remains to be seen.
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A Woman of Substance is available to stream on Channel 4.
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Authors
Morgan CormackDrama Writer
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.
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