Barbara Taylor Bradford novels slated for TV

Eight of Barbara Taylor Bradford's novels are to be made into TV dramas after the author secured a major deal with independent film company The Forge. 

The deal was brokered by Bradford’s media agent, Luke Speed, on behalf of Jonathan Lloyd of the Curtis Brown Group.

The  Forge has acquired all eight books in The Emma Harte Saga, including A Woman of Substance, Hold the Dream, To Be the Best, Emma’s Secret, Unexpected Blessings, Just Rewards, Breaking the Rules, and Taylor Bradford's latest novel, A Man of Honour. The new novel is the prequel to A Woman of Substance, and Taylor Bradford’s long-term publisher HarperCollins will release it this November.

Beth Willis, executive producer at The Forge, said: “Barbara’s generosity and support with her masterpiece has been incredible. We are honoured to be allowed to bring this riveting and much-loved saga to the screen.”

The Forge has produced an array of TV dramas including "National Treasure", "Kiri and The Accident", David Hare’s "Collateral" and most recently political thriller "Roadkill" starring Hugh Laurie. The company has also produced "The Miniaturist", an adaption of Jessie Burton’s international bestseller. 

Taylor Bradford said: “The Forge has acted swiftly and has been great to work with. I think my darling Emma Harte and her vast family have just found a good home.”

Since 1998, Taylor Bradford has sold 2.06 million books for £11m, with her bestseller 2004's Emma's Secret, on 171,560 copies sold in paperback, through Nielsen BookScan TCM. Commenting on the first novel in the series, the author said: “A Woman of Substance is about a servant girl who through talent, true grit, hard graft, ambition, and drive becomes a huge success as a tycoon. She founds a great family dynasty and an enormous business empire that encircles the world. The novels cover over 100 years, from 1904 to 2009. It is a sweeping epic saga which tells the life stories of Emma Harte plus three generations of Hartes who follow in her footsteps: her granddaughters, great granddaughters, and nieces as well as her male progeny including her sons, grandsons and nephews. There is every human emotion in all of my books and many strong plot lines, which are ideal for television drama.”

Willis added: “Television dramas about women who aren’t driven by love or a need for love are rarer than hen’s teeth. Emma Harte has an array of dazzling romances, marriages, lovers and missed opportunities. But what drives her is a steely determination to never feel powerless, to provide and to protect and, most importantly, to win. Seeing her incredible journey across the 20th century, through 21st-century eyes, is illuminating, gripping and very exciting. It is impossible to turn away from the mighty Emma Harte.”