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After 14 years, 56 episodes, and too many murders to count, Brenda Blethyn's Vera officially hung up her famous hat and called it a day on solving the most complex of crimes in Northumberland, England. However, just four months after the final episode aired, accompanied by a special documentary, the Vera star is set to return to our screens in another famous British title, this time in an adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's beloved novel, A Woman of Substance. According to Radio Times, the British legend will be starring in the Channel 4 eight-part series as Emma Harte, with filming currently underway in Yorkshire.

Speaking of her involvement in the project, Blethyn said, "I’m overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role, in the footsteps of the great Deborah Kerr." She continued, "As a fan of Barbara Taylor Bradford, it is an unmissable opportunity to play the fierce Emma Harte.

Channel 4 has cast the leads for its upcoming remake of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman Of Substance.

Double Oscar-nominee Brenda Blethyn will play the older Emma Harte and Jessica Reynolds is the younger version of the iconic character.

The remake of the rags-to-riches tale comes 40 years after the first Channel 4 version of A Woman of Substance, which starred Jenny Seagrove and remains its most watched drama of all time. Taylor Bradford died last November aged 91.

Joining the cast are Emmett J Scanlan (Kin, Mobland) as Adam Fairley, Lydia Leonard (The Mirror and The Light, Gentleman Jack) as Olivia Wainwright, Leanne Best (This City Is Ours, Line of Duty) as Adele Fairley, Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom, Domina) as Edwin Fairley, Harry Cadby (In Flight, Everything Now) as Gerald Fairley, Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Line of Duty) as Jack Harte, BAFTA-winning Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable,...