THE ORIGINAL star of A Woman of Substance has broken his silence after Channel 4 revealed its plans to revive its ‘most watched drama ever’ – 40 years on from its first inception.
The reboot is based on the late Barbara Taylor Bradford’s best-selling 1979 novel, which was adapted into a film starring Liam Neeson, Deborah Kerr, and Jenny Seagrove.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Channel 4 has green-lit plans to bring the 1985 classic, which broke the channel’s rating records and still ranks top on its streaming charts back to our screen.
The record-breaking series told the story of a British servant girl, played by Jenny Seagrove and Emma Harte, who launches her retail empire against all odds.
Peter Egan, 78, played Adam Fairley, Emma’s father and speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, he said: “I am too old to be cast now. I played the Woman of Substance’s father in the original and of course, Liam Neeson played Blackie years ago.
“It was over 40 years ago now, so it’s a distant memory, but I can see why they’re reviving it, because it’s a very good rags-to-riches tale and engages with all of the things that make a good story, like adultery and deceit and betrayal and passion and love.
“The networks are hungry for material. And if they’ve got a good title, like a woman of substance, half their job is done anyway.”
Peter rose to fame in 1969 as the gangster Hogarth in Big Breadwinner Hogg, later playing the Duke of Sutherland in Chariots of Fire. He played Oscar Wild in Lille and Magnus Pym in John Le Carre’s A Perfect Spy during the same period.
Then came Ever Decreasing Circles, as Paul Ryman, opposite Penelope Wilton as Ann Bryce.
Later came roles in the Ruth Rendell Mysteries and A Touch of Frost, but you’ll probably remember him from Downton Abbey as Shrimpie MaClare—the Marquess of Flintshire—in the Christmas special and later appeared as a recurring character in series five and six.
But Peter is also a man of great substance, and he is most proud of his roles dealing with complex issues, such as the recent True Love about Assisted Dying and his role in Afterlife, directed by Ricky Gervais.
These days, Peter is passionate about helping animals and he credits his wife Myra as the “great instigator and supporter of my entering the greater world of animal rights and animal advocacy.”
He recently visited Romania and Armenia with International Animal Rescue to help a bear named Retta with the team from FPCW and IAR to free the bear.
He experienced a release and a rescue within two days and said: “It was just breathtaking. I really admire the work of IAR.
“Retta was in a bad way and needed help after spending six long years suffering—two in a circus and four trapped in a tiny rusting cage. Retta’s boy was frail, her spirit crushed, and her future uncertain.”
He added: “I’ve been an actor for 58 years, and I’ve had a really lucky and successful career. The acting Gods have rewarded me very much, and I do jobs now only if they interest me enough.
“I’m delighted at my age to be still offered work. But going to Armenia was a passion project, and I will devote however long I have left in my life to raising awareness for every species on the planet and shining a light on the true reality of what happens to the animals and the horror of it to make a difference.”
