Meet PBS’s ‘Monarch of the Glen’ Cast: Julia Brown, ‘Grantchester’s Rishi Nair & More
PBS Masterpiece has revealed the stars of its Monarch of the Glen remake, and it includes Grantchester star Rishi Nair and Downtown Abbey‘s Phyllis Logan, with Karen Pirie‘s Julia Brown in the lead role. You can see the seven stars in the PBS Monarch of the Glen cast gallery below.
Masterpiece‘s Monarch of the Glen is described as “a fresh reimagining” of the iconic BBC series of the same name from the early 2000s. The original show starred Alastair Mackenzie as Archie Macdonald, a young London restaurateur who returned to his Scottish Highland home to revive his family’s struggling estate and reconcile with its quirky inhabitants and traditions.
PBS‘s rendition puts a woman in the lead role in a remake that the network describes as a “rich, romantic, and humorous family saga rooted in legacy, love, and survival, returning to the Scottish Highlands for a new generation.”
Alastair Mackenzie as Archie in Monarch of the Glen (Everett Collection)
The series will see Julia Brown (World on Fire) as high-flying London lawyer Isla Campbell, who finds herself back at her family’s crumbling Highland estate for her estranged father’s funeral, expecting to be gone in days. Instead, she discovers she has inherited a million-pound debt, a bank closing in, and a brother, Alasdair, played by Chris Fulton (Bridgerton, Outlander), refusing to let go of their ancestral home. Under the same roof for the first time in years, brother and sister must find a way to save the struggling estate before time runs out and they lose it for good.
The cast is rounded out by Ewan Miller (High Value Target, The Gray House) as gamekeeper and family friend Ewan and Nair as businessman Daniel. Logan stars as Morag, with John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory’s Girl, World War Z) as longtime family lawyer Fergus and Gordon Kennedy (Robin Hood, The Diplomat) as stockman Angus.
Brown said in a statement: “I’m so excited to be stepping into the world of Monarch of the Glen and bringing Isla Campbell to life. Isla is ambitious, sharp, and fiercely independent, but returning home to Scotland forces her to confront her past, her family and a future she never expected. I am so, so proud to be joining such a talented cast and cannot wait to bring this heartfelt story to audiences.”
Logan added: “Monarch of the Glen holds such a special place in people’s hearts, so it’s a real privilege to be part of its return. The scripts are full of wit, warmth and wonderful characters, and I’m delighted to be working alongside this brilliant cast and crew. It will be great fun to welcome audiences back to Scotland.”
Monarch of the Glen Season 1 has six, 60-minute episodes. It premieres in 2027. See the stars in the gallery below.
Monarch of the Glen, Series Premiere, 2027, PBS
Julia Brown as Isla
Phyllis Logan as Morag
Chris Fulton as Alasdair
Rishi Nair as Daniel
Ewan Miller as Ewan
Gordon Kennedy as Angus
John Gordon Sinclair as Fergus
Conversation22 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
S
Im gonna watch just to see Nair. He is easy on the eyes.😘
27
-
M
They're going to have a LONG way to go to beat the older version.
16
-
B
I enjoy most PBS shows, especially the British ones. Looking forward to this.
5
-
V
Loved the old series so much. Not sure about a new one. I doubt it can compare
4
-
G
Alistair McKenzie as Archie MacDonald
3
-
C
Not Rishi Nair again😖
3
-
M
Oh behave yourself. He's talented and yummy to look at.
28
-
C
I am delighted to see him again.
13
-
-
S
I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Nair in Grantchester. Can't wait to watch him in another series... this time without the collar. Plus, I've never watched the original Monarch of the Glen.
16
-
T
He appears to be a good actor. For some reason, I can't get beyond the scar (?) on his left lower lip. It resembles raw, protruding tissue when he talks, sometimes at rest. It seems shallow but it truly makes me queasy to watch
1
-
L
Watched all episodes of Grantchester with him. Never noticed it. He has mesmerizing eyes.
9
-
M
I'm still hung up on the first vicar in Grantchester!
-
-
-
-
W
I’m looking forward to it. I loved the old series very much, but I’m open to a new interpretation. I remember not being thrilled when they made a new person of All Creatures Great and Small, but I ended up loving it as much as if not more than the original.
1
-
R
So, a remake with none of the same characters/names?
1
-
D
I just finished it last week for the third time and cannot believe this will be as great but will give it a try.
-
J
I don't believe I've ever heard of Monarch of the Glen, so a 'remake' of it has no allure for me. I'll be skipping this PBS offering.
-
L
The original Monarch of the Glen was a quirky, fun series. You might consider watching one of them - you might have a good time.
13
-
J
I'm just not a fan of soapy family dramas, which is what this sounds like. If I do check this one out, it might only be to listen to the Scottish accents. ;-)
1
-
M
I'm into the Brit mysteries (Midsomer Murders, Father Brown) and the older comedy series, e.g. Waiting for God, Keeping Up Appearances, etc.
1
-
M
DITTO!
-
-
-
E
Thats a shame. The original was a gem. Give it a chance
3
-
J
See my response above. I guess I'm just a little picky in which shows I prefer/watch on PBS.
1
-
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services