Vera's Brenda Blethyn lands new role with Death in Paradise actor months after ITV exit

Vera's Brenda Blethyn has landed a new role on Channel 4 with Death in Paradise star Will Mellor.

The actress, who will portray Emma Harte, has commenced filming for a new adaptation of A Woman of Substance on .

Jessica Reynolds will join Brenda in the series, playing the younger version of the iconic character—a housemaid who rises to become a mogul, daughter, mother, lover, fighter, and feminist icon of the 20th century who defies societal norms.

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The star-studded cast will also feature several other well-known faces, including Emmett J Scanlan as Adam Fairley, Lydia Leonard as Olivia Wainwright, Leanne Best as Fairley, Ewan Horrocks as Edwin Fairley, and Harry Cadby as Gerald Fairley.

Death in Paradise's Will Mellor will portray Jack Harte, BAFTA-winning Lenny Rush as Frank Harte, Niall Wright as Mac, Gavin and Stacey's Robert Wilfort as Murgatroyd, Toby Regbo as Jim Fairley, and Hiftu Quasem as Priya Chandra, reports .

Completing the cast are Call the Midwife's Sophie Bould, who will play Elizabeth Harte, and Georgina Sadler as Polly.

The synopsis for the upcoming series reveals: "Emma Harte, an impoverished, ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England, embarks on a whirlwind journey to become the world's wealthiest woman, looking out from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse.

"A rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century, Emma defies the expectations of her society, fearlessly challenging the roles she's given, smashing glass ceilings, and never, ever deviating from her master plan: Get to the top. Whatever it takes."

Almost four decades since its original Emmy-nominated debut as Channel 4's most successful drama to date, this exhilarating reboot breathes new life into the legendary Barbara Taylor Bradford novel that broke sales records.

Brenda enthused about stepping into her latest character's shoes: "I'm overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role, in the footsteps of the great Deborah Kerr. As a fan of Barbara Taylor-Bradford, it is an unmissable opportunity to play the formidable Emma Harte."

Jessica echoed the excitement: "To be a part of A Woman of Substance and to step into the shoes of Emma is an absolute dream for me. The team and cast we have behind this are truly inspiring, and I'm so excited to bring the stunning scripts and this great piece of literature to the screen."

Earlier in the year, Brenda made headlines when she revealed her decision to bid farewell to Vera, reflecting on how much she missed her family during filming as a pivotal reason for her departure.

Recalling the summer of 2023, she opened up: "It was a lovely summer back in 2023. And I came to realise I hadn't had a summer with my husband for 14 years," exhibiting a glimpse into the personal side of her decision.

"Of course, I missed my family. And my dog Jack, although he was with me in the North East, but I didn't see him much because I was working all day. I love my Vera family, but I love my other family too."