EXCLUSIVE: A Woman of Substance has notched another big sale, soon after the second season of the drama based on the multimillion-selling novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford was announced.
Spanish public broadcaster TVE has become the latest buyer of the rags-to-riches series, which is produced by The Forge Entertainment (The Buccaneers), part of Banijay UK. Banijay Rights distributes the series and cut the Spanish deal. It has already sold the first season of the show to BritBox for the U.S. as well as to broadcasters in Europe and beyond, per our earlier reporting.
We were also first with the news that Channel 4 had greenlit Season 2 of the series, which is the UK broadcaster’s most-streamed show for several years. Adaptations of the book have delivered for Channel 4 across generations. An earlier series based on the novel remains Channel 4’s most-watched show of all time.
The late Taylor Bradford’s book details the decades-long story of Emma Harte, a Yorkshire maid who becomes a business mogul. Double Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn and Kneecap star Jessica Reynolds play the older and younger Harte.
Spain’s TVE also acquired Italian drama Free Women (Libere Donne) from Banijay Rights. The psychological thriller, from Endemol Shine Italy and Rai Fiction and set during the Second World War, is billed as a story of justice, marriage and redemption.
Marion Vergnaud, SVP Sales, Iberia and Italy at Banijay Rights, said: “This deal with TVE highlights the strong appetite for engaging, character‑driven drama across key European markets and it’s great to be partnering once again and building on our long‑standing relationship.”
