Channel 4’s highly anticipated new drama A Woman of Substance began to air this month, and you’ll spot the North East proudly playing its part in the story.
The eight part adaptation, based on Barbara Taylor Bradford’s globally bestselling novel, filmed at several locations across northern England, including Beamish Museum in County Durham, one of the region’s most iconic and beloved historic sites.
The series follows the extraordinary Emma Harte played by Brenda Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds across two timelines, as she rises from a Yorkshire maid in 1911 to a global business powerhouse.
Filming took place across Yorkshire and Liverpool, but crucially also at Beamish, where the open-air museum’s authentically recreated period streets and interiors provided the perfect backdrop for the early 20th century world the series brings to life.
Beamish is no stranger to film and TV, having featured in Downton Abbey, All Creatures Great and Small, and The War Below. Welcoming a high profile Channel 4 drama of this scale at the same time as other productions highlights the region’s versatility, talent, and capacity to host several major HETV productions at once.
The North East Screen Film Office plays a vital role in securing and supporting productions filming across the region. From sourcing locations and permissions to connecting with local crew, facilities and suppliers, the team make filming in the North East an attractive and efficient offer.
For A Woman of Substance, the Film Office’s support contributed to a smooth and successful shoot at Beamish, ensuring the production had everything it needed. Our team works closely with regional partners, local authorities, and location owners to make filming in the North East not only seamless, but hugely rewarding.
This expertise and hands-on approach strengthens the region’s reputation as a world-class filming destination and allows heritage settings like Beamish to shine just as brightly as the performances and storytelling they help bring to life.
The North East offers something distinct: a combination of stunning coastlines, dramatic countryside, vibrant cities, characterful rural communities, and talented crew, all supported by a production-friendly environment. With the Film Office championing the region and helping productions every step of the way, more productions are discovering what we’ve long known: the North East is the perfect place to tell your story.
If you’d like support bringing your production to the North East, our Film Office team is here to help. Contact filmoffice@northeastscreen.org
