"Miss Scarlet" redirects here. For the Cluedo character, see List of Cluedo characters § Miss Scarlett.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke
Alt nameMiss Scarlet (Series 5 onwards)
Genre
CreatorRachael New
Starring
Country
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Num series6
Num episodes36
Executive producer
  • Todd Berger
  • Patrick Irwin
  • Jin Ishimoto
  • Patty Ishimoto
  • Harvey Myman
  • Rachael New
  • Declan O'Dwyer (series 1)
  • Kate Phillips (series 4-)
  • Stuart Martin (series 4)
Producer
  • Aaron Farrell (series 1)
  • Patty Ishimoto - Series producer (series 4-)
Location
  • Ireland (series 1)[1]
  • Serbia (series 2– )[2][3]
Runtime60 minutes
Company
Network
First aired31 March 2020
Last airedpresent

Miss Scarlet (titled Miss Scarlet and The Duke in series 1–4) is a British-American period television crime drama created by Rachael New. It stars Kate Phillips (Eliza Scarlet) as the title character, a Victorian era private detective.[1][4]

The first series debuted on Alibi in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2020, and premiered in the United States on 17 January 2021, as part of PBS's Masterpiece anthology series. A second series was announced by PBS on 29 March 2021. It premiered on Alibi in the UK on 14 June 2022, and on PBS in the US on 16 October 2022. Series three, four, five, and six all first premiered on PBS, with series 3 on 8 January 2023; series 4 on 7 January 2024; series 5 on 12 January 2025; and series 6 on 7 December 2025. Series 5 marked a turnover for the series: Stuart Martin had departed the show in series 4, and his character William "the Duke" Wellington was written out. The show was retitled "Miss Scarlet" as a result.[5] Tom Durant-Pritchard took a replacement role as Inspector Alexander Blake.[6][7]

A seventh season is in production as of 2026, and is expected to be the final series.[8]

Plot and characters

In Victorian London, 1882, Eliza Scarlet is left almost penniless when her father, Henry, unexpectedly dies. Although marriage would appear to be her only option for financial security, Eliza resolves to take over her father's detective agency alone, working under his name. Struggling to build her reputation in the male-dominated world of crime-solving, she frequently calls on her childhood friend William Wellington, a gruff Scottish detective inspector of Scotland Yard, for assistance.

William is known in the police force as "The Duke" or simply "Duke", a nickname referring to the Duke of Wellington.[9] Eliza's late father Henry saved William from the London streets after he arrived from Glasgow as a child and later mentored him as he trained as a policeman. As a result, William looked up to Henry as a father figure. William once kissed Eliza following her dog's death, which he characterises as "a chaste kiss," to her annoyance. Though he is irritated by Eliza's detective aspirations, he cares for her and gradually begins to show respect for her skills.

Eliza also befriends Rupert Parker, a wealthy man who provides her with direly needed loans. Rupert is the bachelor (and secretly gay) son of Mrs. Parker, a rich landlady who owns Eliza's home, and relies on Eliza's advice to navigate his personal life. Eliza lives with her housekeeper, Ivy Woods, who helped raise her after Eliza's mother died (some time before the series begins). Eliza and William bicker and argue constantly but also share moments of subtle flirtation and care for each other deeply.

Series writer and creator Rachael New took inspiration for Eliza's character from Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.[9] Born into a middle-class family, Eliza uses her appearance as a refined Victorian lady to her advantage; both clients and suspects underestimate her, and she frequently relies on this, her wits, and her father's training to solve cases. William and Eliza work on several cases together, though she is uncredited, causing disputes between them. Eliza also relies on a Jamaican criminal, Moses, for help dealing with the dangerous underworld of London. Moses is amused by Eliza's gumption, and they connect as outsiders to society.

Cast

Overview

ActorCharacterSeries
123456
Kate PhillipsEliza Scarletcolspan="6"
Stuart MartinWilliam "Duke" Wellingtoncolspan="4"colspan="2"
Ansu KabiaMoses Valentinecolspan="3"colspan="2"
Cathy BeltonIvy Woodscolspan="6"
Simon LuddersBarnabus Pottscolspan="5"
Helen NortonMrs Parkercolspan="2"colspan="2"
Kevin DoyleHenry Scarletcolspan="5"
Andrew GowerRupert Parkercolspan="5"
Danny MidwinterFrank Jenkinscolspan="5"
Nick DunningStirlingcolspan="5"
Richard EvansHerr Hildegardcolspan="5"
Jessie CaveHarriet "Hattie" Parkercolspan="4"
Ian PirieMonrocolspan="2"colspan="3"
Evan McCabeOliver Fitzroycolspan="4"
Tim ChippingCharlie Phelpscolspan="4"
Felix ScottPatrick Nashcolspan="3"
Brian BovellSolomoncolspan="2"colspan="3"
Laura RollinsClementinecolspan="2"colspan="3"
Oliver ChrisBasil Sinclairecolspan="3"colspan="2"
Paul BazelyClarence Pettigrewcolspan="3"colspan="3"
Tom Durant PritchardAlexander Blakecolspan="4"colspan="2"
Sam BuchananDetective George Willowscolspan="5"colspan="1"
Grace Hogg-RobinsonIsabel Summerscolspan="5"colspan="1"

Detective agency

  • Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet, an ambitious young woman who takes over her late father's detective agency
  • Ansu Kabia as Moses Valentine, a Jamaican British petty criminal whom Eliza frequently hires as an assistant, informant, or debt collector (series 1–3, guest series 6)
  • Kevin Doyle as Henry Scarlet (series 1), Eliza's father and William's mentor
  • Andrew Gower as Rupert Parker (series 1), Eliza's friend and investor
  • Paul Bazely as Clarence (regular, series 4–present) a bookkeeper employed by Patrick Nash and later employed by Eliza

Police officials

  • Stuart Martin as William "Duke" Wellington (series 1–4), a detective inspector with the Metropolitan Police
    • Matt Olsen as young William "Duke" Wellington
  • Simon Ludders as Barnabus Potts (series 1–2; guest, series 3–), a city coroner, who antagonises Eliza but later romantically pursues Ivy
  • Matthew Malone as Clarence Honeychurch (series 1), a police constable
  • Danny Midwinter as Frank Jenkins (series 1), William's assistant, a detective sergeant
  • Nick Dunning as Superintendent Stirling (series 1), William's supervisor
  • Ian Pirie as Superintendent Monro (series 2–3), Stirling's successor
  • Evan McCabe as Oliver Fitzroy (series 2–5), a new and untested detective, and the son of the police commissioner
  • Tim Chipping as DS Charlie Phelps (series 2–5, guest series 6), a harsh colleague of William's, temporarily replaces William following his departure for America
  • Tom Durant Pritchard as Alexander Blake (series 5), a former soldier turned inspector who (permanently) replaces William following his departure for America
  • Sam Buchanan as Detective George Willows (series 6), a new inspector brought in after both Phelps and Fitzroy have transferred

Associates

  • Cathy Belton as Ivy Woods, Eliza's housekeeper who later gets a job as an administrative assistant at the police station
  • Richard Evans as Herr Hildegard (series 1), a funeral director who works near Eliza's office
  • Amy McAllister as Tilly Hildegard (series 1), Herr Hildegard's German niece, who pursues and eventually marries Rupert
  • Jessie Cave as Harriet "Hattie" Parker (series 2), Mrs Parker's niece and companion
  • Felix Scott as Patrick Nash (recurring, series 2; regular, series 3– ), another private detective
  • Brian Bovell as Solomon (guest, series 2; regular, series 3), a shopkeeper specialising in exotic poisons
  • Sophie Robertson as Arabella Acaster (series 3), an old schoolmate who bullied Eliza as a child
  • Helen Norton as Mrs Parker (recurring, series 1–2, 5), Eliza's landlady and Rupert's mother
  • Oliver Chris as Basil Sinclaire (recurring, series 2–4), a journalist specialising in sensational crime stories
  • Laura Rollins as Clementine (recurring, series 2–3), a sex worker and friend of Moses', occasionally hired by Eliza for various tasks
  • Grace Hogg-Robinson as Isabel Summers (series 6), a new administrative assistant at the police station

Production

The first series was filmed in Dublin, Ireland,[1][4] with exteriors of Eliza's home shot on Mount Pleasant Square, Ranelagh. The distinctive green dome of Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners Church, Rathmines is visible in some street scenes. The police station where the Duke works is in fact the CBS Westland Row in Cumberland Street.[citation needed]

As of series 2, production moved to Belgrade, Serbia,[2] where it remains as of series 5.[3][10]

Broadcast

The first series began broadcasting on Alibi in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2020,[11] and premiered in the United States on 17 January 2021, as part of PBS's Masterpiece anthology series.[12][13]

A second series was announced by PBS on 29 March 2021.[14] It first aired on Alibi in the UK on 14 June 2022,[15] and later on PBS in the US on 16 October 2022.[12]

Miss Scarlet and The Duke was later renewed for series three and four.[16] Series three premiered on PBS on 8 January 2023 with weekly installments,[12][17][18] though all episodes were made available via the membership video-on-demand service PBS Passport on 24 November 2022.[18][19] Episodes were also released weekly on Amazon Prime Video's PBS Masterpiece subscription channel beginning 24 November 2022.[18] Series four premiered on PBS on 7 January 2024 with weekly installments,[12][20] and all episodes made available that day via PBS Passport.[21]

The renewal announcement for series five also mentioned that actor Stuart Martin would be leaving the series, and his character William "The Duke" Wellington would be written off the show. As a result the show would be renamed Miss Scarlet starting with the fifth series.[5] Stuart Martin had made the decision himself to leave the show as he felt Miss Scarlet was being held back by The Duke's presence in her life, and the show had taken The Duke's character as far as he could go within the series[22] and that Scarlet's character could "explore new stories and challenges for now."[23] The creators said they chose not to kill Martin's character off because "we just thought it would be too final, too cruel for Eliza, for the audience, and quite frankly, would limit our options for the show going forward, I think. But at this point in their lives, I think Duke and Eliza aren't ready to be together."[24]

References

  1. ^ Clarke, Stewart (3 December 2019). "PBS Masterpiece Picks Up A+E's Period Drama 'Miss Scarlet and the Duke'". Variety
  2. ^ "'Miss Scarlet and The Duke' begins filming Season 2 in Belgrade". British Period Dramas. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ Rice, Lynette (29 November 2022). "'Miss Scarlet And The Duke' Renewed For Fourth Season By Masterpiece". Deadline. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Irish-made Miss Scarlet and The Duke lands on Alibi". RTÉ.ie. 26 March 2020.
  5. ^ "MASTERPIECE Announces Miss Scarlet Season 5 and Casting News". PBS. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024. New Chapter Begins with Kate Phillips Returning; Series Bids Farewell to "The Duke"
  6. ^ Rice, Lynette (18 April 2024). "'Miss Scarlet' Casts Tom Durant Pritchard To Fill Void Left By The Duke". Deadline
  7. ^ "Everything You Need to Know About Miss Scarlet Season 5". Masterpiece. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  8. ^ "Miss Scarlet Season 7 Confirmed as the Series Finale". PBS. March 4, 2026.
  9. ^ "Interview: Miss Scarlet and The Duke's Creator Rachael New". Masterpiece. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  10. ^ Rice, Lynette (February 19, 2025). "'Miss Scarlet' Renewed For Sixth Season By Masterpiece"
  11. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 1: Episodes Guide and Summaries". Next Episode. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Shows A-Z – Miss Scarlet and The Duke on PBS". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Miss Scarlet & The Duke: Episode 1: 'Inheritance'". Masterpiece. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Masterpiece Announces Second Season of Miss Scarlet and The Duke". Masterpiece. March 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 2: Episodes Guide and Summaries". Next Episode. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Masterpiece Announces Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4". Masterpiece. PBS. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  17. ^ Rice, Lynette (July 28, 2022). "Miss Scarlet & The Duke Renewed For Season 3 At PBS Masterpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  18. ^ "Get Ready for Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 3". PBS. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 3 Episodes List - Next Episode". next-episode.net
  20. ^ "Everything to Know About Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4". PBS
  21. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 4 Episodes List - Next Episode". next-episode.net
  22. ^ Lacob, Jace (29 February 2024). "Stuart Martin Says Goodbye, Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4". PBS. Retrieved 1 March 2024. "...Eliza, to see what that is like without Duke, to kind of allow her to be not held back by Duke." "(Stuart) felt that he’d taken the character as far as he could go, and that this would be the natural point for Duke to leave."
  23. ^ "MASTERPIECE Announces Miss Scarlet Season 5 and Casting News". Masterpiece. PBS. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  24. ^ "Stuart Martin says goodbye to Miss Scarlet and The Duke". Masterpiece. PBS. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025.