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  • 1985-11-13T00:00:00Z on Channel 4
  • 1h 40m
  • 6h 40m (4 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
  • English
  • Drama
Propelled by Star studded casts and rich period detail, these brilliant adaptations of Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling novels bring to life two of her most unfortgettable heroines. The beloved trilogy that begins with Emma Harte's remarkable rise from servant girl to international corporate power comes full circle when Emma's granddaughter must struggle against powerful enemies to keep the family's retail empire from collapsing. From beginning to end, three inspiring stories of love, power and determination. A Woman of Substance - A Woman of Substance charts the life of Emma Harte, from kitchen maid at the beginning of the 20th Century, to respected business woman and Grandmother in the 1980's. From humble beginnings Emma Harte starts her business with a small shop, but over the next twenty years she expands her stores and invests in the growing textile industry in Leeds. By the time of World War 2, Emma is the head of a major retail and manufacturing empire, but she has struggled all her life to find love. After an illegitimate daughter and two marriages, she finally meets the love of her life, Paul McGill, but their affair is cut short by a tragic accident, leaving Emma with his daughter. In the 1980's Emma faces one of her biggest tests - her childrens attempt to remove her as head of her company, but Emma is far from the senile old woman they think she is - she is determined to stop them at all costs. Hold The Dream - Passionate sequel To Be The Best - FInal chapter in a masterpiece of storytelling starring Lindsay Wagner, Anthony Hopkins

4 episodes

Season Premiere

1985-11-13T00:00:00Z

2x01 Hold the Dream 1

Season Premiere

2x01 Hold the Dream 1

  • 1985-11-13T00:00:00Z1h 40m

Paula Fairley, now head of the Harte chain of department stores, has taken on the burden of preserving Emma's legacy. However, she suffers dissent within her extended family, in particular her devious cousin Jonathan Ainsley.

Her marriage to Jim Fairley is unhappy, leading her into the arms of her childhood sweetheart, Shane O'Neill (Stephen Collins), grandson of Blackie O'Neill (Liam Neeson). Struggling to prove herself in a male dominated world, just like her grandmother before her, Paula would suffer heartache and loss that mirrors the life of her grandmother. Emma's request that Paula hold her dream is what drives Paula to fight and overcome personal tragedy and come out on top, so as to save the Harte name for the next generation.

1985-11-13T00:00:00Z

2x02 Hold the Dream 2

2x02 Hold the Dream 2

  • 1985-11-13T00:00:00Z1h 40m

1985-11-13T00:00:00Z

2x03 Hold the Dream 3

2x03 Hold the Dream 3

  • 1985-11-13T00:00:00Z1h 40m

1985-11-13T00:00:00Z

2x04 Hold the Dream 4

2x04 Hold the Dream 4

  • 1985-11-13T00:00:00Z1h 40m
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