Will Mellor shares why Channel 4's A Woman of Substance is one of his ‘favourite’ projects to date

Yet, from the moment he looked at the script he knew that this was a project that he wanted to be part of.

A Woman of Substance is classic rags-to-riches tale which follows Emma Harte, a young Yorkshire maid who changes her fate and creates a business empire. Channel 4’s first adaptation of the series in 1985 is still the channel’s most successful drama of all time.

Now, in the 2026 revival, Will takes on the role of Emma’s father Jack, a character he described as “hard-working”, “genuine”, and with “a big heart.”

Will told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Jack Harte has had a very tough life. He tries to hide it, but you can see he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve and he wants to look out for his family.

“Harte by name, heart by nature - that’s who he is.”

A Woman of Substance begins in the early 1900s and chronicles Emma’s life from Yorkshire to New York as she crafts her own success.

For Will, who is known for comedies such as Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, and contemporary dramas such as Mr Bates vs The Post Office, it was exciting to take part in a period drama and become transported to a completely different era.

Will said: “I don’t get the chance to do period dramas often, but it was one of my favourite jobs I’ve ever done.

“It was a real escapism every time I went into work. I put the clothes on and went to do my scenes; it was literally like I was somebody else, a pure escapism, and I loved every minute of it.

“That’s what’s so great about being an actor, you can go and be somebody else for that day.”

A Woman of Substance was filmed across Yorkshire, a landscape that Will said was “scenic and beautiful” and made you truly feel like you had travelled back in time.

The drama is a tale of struggle and determination, something Will believes is still relevant in this day and age.

Will added: “It’s a rags-to-riches story of somebody who has fought to get what she wants out of life and that story is as old as time.

“People always want to see people who fight and are determined to get what they are driven for.”

Since its original publication, A Woman of Substance has sold over 30 million copies across the world.

Channel 4’s new adaptation will retell the renowned story over the course of eight hour-long episodes.

Will encourages audiences, both new and old, to watch the drama - which is gripping from the very start.

Will said: “It pulls on your heartstrings from episode one. Then once you’ve watched the first episode you can’t stop.

“You have to watch the rest because it just gets better and better.

“This has got a bit of something for everybody so come into this world, feel the emotion, enjoy it.”

The first episode of A Woman of Substance will air on Channel 4 on Wednesday at 9pm.