‘Miss Scarlet & The Duke’ Bombshell as Titular ‘Duke’ Stuart Martin Exits Show
Miss Scarlet and The Duke are out; Miss Scarlet is in.
PBS has announced major changes to the period piece as it renews the series for Season 5. Stuart Martin, who plays the titular William “The Duke” Wellington, is leaving the series, and from this point on, it will be titled Miss Scarlet. Kate Phillips will remain in her leading role of Eliza Scarlet.
Miss Scarlet and The Duke follows Eliza Scarlet, Victorian London’s first-ever female detective, who spars (and sparks) with Scotland Yard Detective Inspector William Wellington, aka The Duke. Eliza is a headstrong woman, and William is her childhood friend turned professional competition.
Season 4 of the series premiered on January 7 on PBS. In it, Eliza took over the business Nash & Sons. Meanwhile, her will-they-won’t-they dynamic with the Duke came to a head. By Season 4 Episode 4, their relationship had changed forever. The Season 4 finale aired on February 11.
Martin said in a statement that it’s time for Miss Scarlet to have new adventures.
“It has been such an incredible joy to bring Duke to life through [series creator] Rachael [New]’s beautiful, brilliant writing and to get to play him for the past four years,” he said on Thursday, February 29, per Deadline. “But it felt like the time was right for Scarlet to explore new stories and challenges for now as the show continues to grow and evolve. I will miss working with my amazing partner in crime, Kate, and the rest of our brilliant family and team, but I’m excited to continue following Eliza and her escapades as a huge fan and newly enrolled Scarleteer!”
“I will miss working with my pal Stu every day and know Eliza will miss her Duke, but I think the best is yet to come for her,” Phillips said. “I can’t wait for fans to see what we have in store for Season 5.”
“This new chapter in Eliza’s story is going to bring our audience more of what they’ve come to love about this series — mystery, humor, potential romance, and most of all, Kate Phillips’ terrific performance as Miss Scarlet,” said Masterpiece Executive Producer Susanne Simpson.
Martin’s departure is further detailed in a podcast on the PBS Masterpiece website.
Miss Scarlet Season 5 production has already begun in Belgrade, Serbia. Additional casting and a release date will be announced at a later time.
The Miss Scarlet & The Duke cast also includes Cathy Belton (Philomena) as Ivy, a housekeeper and Eliza’s mother figure, and Felix Scott (The Crown, Grantchester) as Patrick Nash, another private eye in Eliza’s sphere.
Miss Scarlet, Season 5 Premiere, TBA, PBS
Conversation16 Comments
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P
Without The Duke there is no show for me. His name is in the title!!! He needs to come back Season 6. Their relationship is the heart of the show! Episodes without him just weren’t as good! I loved all the characters but without the Duke not the same! Nash—nah!!
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no show for me either dont watch may be they will get the message
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PEOPLE NEED TO COMPLAIN
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B
I can't. I just can't. They can't replace the Duke except possibly with another "Duke" actor, IMHO even if significant time ends up passing before they reconnect, the series ultimately needs to end with them reconnecting. Does anyone else remember the "fake proposal" he did on one of their cases and her face? The care after the gunshot wound where we learned their history. She loves him. He's loves her. He promised her father he'd care for her. It feels like a lifelong "my true love" kind of love to me. Like no matter what happens...they have each other. I agree Nash is more compatible to her lifestyle. I see him probably taking the place of her protector so to speak. But whether it happens earlier or after they've followed their life paths (she breaks the women's restrictions/expectations)...he possibly marries and has a child (and becomes a widower) the eventual final episode of the series (perhaps they are significantly older), their lives intersect at a time when it is possible to for them to be together. I think removing the Duke totally may work for new viewers but will never work for any of those who have watched their relationship from the beginning.
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I was afraid this would happen... once Duke left for New York (for three years or something???) I was afraid this would happen. And I predicted, before the season ended, that Nash would end up liking and respecting her, and the 'will-they-or-won't-they' would apply to Eliza and Nash, as much as Eliza and Duke.
Too bad, though... Stuart Martin is doggone good-looking, and that Scottish accent...... wow!!
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O
I'm sorry to hear that Duke is leaving the show. I don't think the show will be the same as it was with both of them in it. I'm sure I won't be watching Miss Scarlet any longer.🥲
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how stupid can they be we want duke11111
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M
I think this is a huge mistake. Writers are always taking the best shows, people, and creating chemistry between them. Then when we as the viewers fall in love with these shows you all create you change it. I have send it time and again. Now we have Miss Scarlet and the Duke. Just as we were getting excited about the two of them you send him away. Then now you have forced him out. Stop it! Bring him back! ASAP! If not you will lose all of your fans. You cannot have one without the other. They exist together. You need to make this up as them being a team or something so she can show she is a brilliant detective, and he showcasing that. If you cannot then I’m out!
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WILL NOT SEE
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I totally agree. I will not be watching season 5. I LOVED this show and couldn't WAIT for the Duke and Miss Scarlet to get together!! I am so, so, so disappointed.
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R
Even when tey say why they got rid of him, they never say why they got rid of him - but then this show's been getting rid of people from the beginning. Moses was really hard to take.
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C
I thought the actor chose to leave …. Unfortunately …he wasn’t happy with the part.
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MESSED UP A GOOD THING. NOT WATCHING
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So how will they write the Duke out of the series? Killed in line-of-duty in New York, or does he find a new love while there and gets married? Stay tuned.
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no crayon in the crayon box will not watch
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He was already out this season, and the show, while different, was not less. While I’d prefer the romantic tension between Eliza and William to the financial tension between Eliza and Patrick, the eps in this season have been just as engaging, while the mentions of William were time-wasters.
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