A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE - Wed&Thur - ch4 9pm - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

A woman of substance Was originally aired 41 years ago and remains channel 4 highest rated program with 13.8 million people tuning in to the rags to riches story of by BARBARA Taylor Bradford

this drama eight episodes - two a week for four weeks

This new adaptation stars as the older EMMA who heads up a business empire we discover as she stepped back through the decades to meet her younger self that she started out of a maid in a big Yorkshire house

This is a story to climb from poverty to great wealth

I don’t think I’ve ever read any of her books so should be interesting if any good

I’m behind due to itv drama

I'm enjoying it, but there are lots of inaccuracies - c1912 electric lighting was commonplace, especially in northern cities like Leeds, and there had been a public telephone system for decades, but no one is on the phone.

Oil lamps over a loom, not in 1912, electric or gas by then in Leeds.

And where are the cars, not many about in 1912, but a few early models would be seen in cities.

Then 1970s Emma calls for help on a 1960's British Dictograph office telephone, the US and UK branches of Pictograph had long divorced and the US models were completely different, much more modern looking. Ho hum.

Episode six tonight, I still haven’t seen last night so that is my plan tonight

Got to admit I lost the run of myself and have seen them all, as it's just the right type of trash tv for me to lose all resistance 😁.

I've one thing (ridiculous thing, certainly not in the same league as @DeftWasp's inaccuracies) that irked me in Episode 6, which I'm still dwelling over - will be back when you've seen it.

I still loving it which is unusual for me as I don’t do period dramas

maybe I should try downtown abbey

tho proposing with his dead wife ring. That’s bad !!

gerald 🙀🙀🙀😢😢😢😡😡😡

emma has 3 kids. Is the 3rd Gerald’s via rape

Does she? I can't figure out who's who in the "future" bits.😜

Do we know whch of her children is the parent of the granddaughter?

I've clearly been distracted 😲

On the bit that bugged me - Mr Romantic (who proposed with his dead wife's ring (maybe it's a family heirloom?)) talked with him mouthful. He was bought up in Victoria time - shocking table manners!!

Said it was ridiculous!

They haven’t said anything about Paula’s parentage, and the person who was her mother’s father in the book hasn’t made an appearance so it’s anyone’s guess. In the book Emma had 5 children. 🤷‍♀️

The bit that bugged me was when Emma snipped away randomly with scissors at Edwin's fiancee's wedding dress while she was wearing it and completely transformed it !

I thought when she’s old Emma thy mention her 3 adult kids. Can’t rem name of the it

I assumed Paula was the grandaughter via one of her 3 (obviously Lol) but that was a direct line from Edwin and wife and their child

but then was trying to work out what /who Paula would be shagging her relative many times removed

She literally cut away the lace attached and then created a low neckline

It’s such a weird adaptation. Leaving out Paula’s parents and her grandfather. This ain’t no savvy Paula either. Blooming travesty. It’s too much about the Fairleys as well.

That's what I wondered - if Paula is actually related to the journalist she's have secret dalliances with. They could be cousins (he's a grandson and grumpy bearded man isn't he?) at the closest (I think, I'm confusing myself!)

Yes must be - possibly her cousin 4 times removed or something like that

Been pondering more on this, and if they are related I don't think it's that distantly

If Paula is Emma's granddaughter through Edwina, and Jim Fairley is Edwin's grandson through a child with his wife, then Paula and Jim are first cousins (They share a grandfather in Edwin.)

Outside of that lineage I don't think there's a genetic link. But I'm not confident and might need a pin board and some string to totally sure. 🤣

The fact that you are all thinking this, shows what a hash, they have made of this adaptation. Most important relationship Emma has and they have left it out. It just doesn’t make sense without it, as the discussions above have shown.

I remember very very little about the 1980s series or the book (basically I remember Jenny Seagrove and that's it). Impressed that others remember it so well.

Anyway, Paula wasn't even in the 1980s version, it seems - so I bet people complained back then about her being left out. Just didn't have MN! (ETA - apparently Paula is the focus of Hold The Dream which I didn't watch)

Jessica Rodgers is tiny, isn't she? Apparently, Brenda Blethyn is the same height (funny - I haven't noticed her tininess ) which helped continuity.

I find Brenda Blethyn deeply irritating on screen but am soldiering on. Young Emma is much more compelling but the screaming into the void bits are too much.

Her accent is good - Leanne Best's and Emmett Scanlan's are awful. I am finding the whole thing poorly cast to be honest. A bit Channel 5 drama.

Oh, now internet tells me that Miranda Richardson played Paula so she was in it but very briefly.

anyway, many rabbit holes later, Paula and Jim are not blood relatives.

Jim is Edwin's grandson but has no Emma blood. Paula has no Edwin blood. They will have to explain this at some point on the series!

I noticed Jo Joyner is about to make an appearance...

I'm watching the 80s series now, as I'm curious to the differences.

The actual story as per the book and actual characters for one. Yes it’s dated, but it’s fairly faithful to the book, as is the sequel, hold the dream. I couldn’t get on with to be the best, as too trashy for me. The cast let it down I think.

So Paula isn’t Edwin’s and wife whose wedding dress she snipped granddaughter

who are Paula’s parents

where Emma has been raped by Gerald , is there no baby - hopefully so not his grandchild ?

Yes she’s in it as recognised her and googled name