Miss Scarlet and The Duke

British-American period crime television drama

Miss Scarlet and The Duke

Genre|

* Crime drama
* Historical drama

Created by| Rachael New
Starring|

* Kate Phillips
* Stuart Martin
* Ansu Kabia
* Cathy Belton

Country of origin|

* United Kingdom
* United States

Original language| English
No. of series| 4
No. of episodes| 24
Production
Executive producers|

* Todd Berger
* Patrick Irwin
* Jin Ishimoto
* Patty Ishimoto
* Harvey Myman
* Rachael New
* Declan O'Dwyer

Producer| Aaron Farrell
Production locations|

* Ireland (series 1)[1]
* Serbia (series 2– )[2][3]

Running time| 60 minutes
Production companies|

* Element 8 Entertainment
* A+E Networks UK
* GBH Boston
* Shinawil (series 1)
* 87 Films (series 2– )
* Other Mans Shoes (series 4– )
* Work in Progress (series 4– )[3]

Original release
Network|

* Alibi (UK/Ireland)[4]
* PBS (US)[1]

Release| 31 March 2020 (2020-03-31) –
present

Miss Scarlet and The Duke is a British-American period television crime drama created by Rachael New, starring Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin as the title characters, two Victorian era detectives.[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. The show was later renewed for series three and four, with series three premiering on PBS on 8 January 2023, and season four premiering on PBS on 7 January 2024.

## Plot and characters[edit]

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.[5] Eliza's late father Henry saved William from the London streets after arriving 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, 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.[5] 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 black 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[edit]

### Overview[edit]

Actor  | Character  | Occupation  | Series

|
|
|

1  | 2  | 3  | 4
Kate Phillips | Eliza Scarlet  | Private detective | Main
Stuart Martin | William "Duke" Wellington  | Police detective inspector | Main
Ansu Kabia | Moses Valentine  | Petty criminal; Eliza's assistant  | Main  | Does not appear
Cathy Belton | Ivy Woods  | Housekeeper | Main
Simon Ludders | Mr Potts  | Coroner | Recurring  | Regular
Kevin Doyle | Henry Scarlet  | Private detective  | Regular  | Does not appear
Andrew Gower | Rupert Parker  | Businessman | Regular  | Does not appear
Matthew Malone  | Clarence Honeychurch  | Police constable | Recurring  | Does not appear
Danny Midwinter  | Frank Jenkins  | Police detective sergeant | Regular  | Does not appear
Nick Dunning | Stirling  | Police superintendent | Regular  | Does not appear
Richard Evans  | Herr Hildegard  | Funeral director | Regular  | Does not appear
Amy McAllister | Tilly Hildegard  |  | Recurring  | Does not appear
Ian Pirie  | Monro  | Police superintendent  | Does not appear | Regular  | Does not appear
Evan McCabe  | Oliver Fitzroy  | Police detective  | Does not appear | Regular
Tim Chipping  | Phelps  | Police detective sergeant  | Does not appear | Regular
Jessie Cave | Harriet "Hattie" Parker  | Lady's companion  | Does not appear | Regular  | Does not appear
Felix Scott | Patrick Nash  | Private detective  | Does not appear | Recurring | Regular
Brian Bovell  | Solomon  | Shopkeeper  | Does not appear | Recurring  | Does not appear
Sophie Robertson  | Arabella Acaster  | Restaurant owner  | Does not appear | Recurring  | Does not appear
Helen Norton  | Mrs Parker  | Landlady  | Recurring  | Does not appear
Oliver Chris | Basil Sinclaire  | Journalist  | Does not appear | Recurring
Laura Rollins | Clementine  | Sex worker  | Does not appear | Recurring  | Does not appear
Paul Bazely  | Clarence  | Bookkeeper | Does not appear | Regular

### Detective agency[edit]

* Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet, an ambitious young woman who takes over her late father's detective agency
* Laura Marcus as young Eliza Scarlet
* Ansu Kabia as Moses Valentine, a Jamaican British petty criminal whom Eliza frequently hires as an assistant, informant, or debt collector (series 1-3)
* 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

### Police officials[edit]

* Stuart Martin as William "Duke" Wellington, a detective inspector with the Metropolitan Police
* Matt Olsen as young William "Duke" Wellington
* Simon Ludders as Mr 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– ), Stirling's successor
* Evan McCabe as Oliver Fitzroy (series 2– ), a new and untested detective, and the son of the police commissioner
* Tim Chipping as DS Phelps (series 2– ), a harsh colleague of William's

### Associates[edit]

* Cathy Belton as Ivy Woods, Eliza's housekeeper
* 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
* Paul Bazely as Clarence (regular, series 4) a bookkeeper employed by Patrick Nash
* 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), Eliza's landlady and Rupert's mother
* Oliver Chris as Basil Sinclaire (recurring, series 2– ), 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

## Episodes[edit]

### Series overview[edit]

Series| Episodes| Originally aired

|
|

First aired| Last aired
1| 6| 31 March 2020 (2020-03-31)| 5 May 2020 (2020-05-05)
2| 6| 14 June 2022 (2022-06-14)| 19 July 2022 (2022-07-19)
3| 6| 8 January 2023 (2023-01-08)| 12 February 2023 (2023-02-12)
4| 6| 7 January 2024 (2024-01-07)| 11 February 2024 (2024-02-11)

### Series 1 (2020)[edit]

No.| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date [a][6]

|
|
|
|

1| "Inheritance"| Declan O'Dwyer| Rachael New| 31 March 2020 (2020-03-31)
After the death of her ailing private detective father, Eliza Scarlet is forced to take on a missing persons case to pay his debts, but the investigation is complicated when she realizes that her client, a seasoned con man, has manipulated her to gain control of his wife's inheritance. With the aid of her father's old protégé, Detective Inspector William "Duke" Wellington, and local criminal Moses Valentine, Eliza proves that her client is a bigamist and apprehends him, enabling his wife to regain her inheritance and her freedom.
2| "The Woman in Red"| Declan O'Dwyer| Rachael New| 7 April 2020 (2020-04-07)
Eliza's landlady, enraged by the former's refusal to marry her son, calls in the unpaid lease she owes for her ancestral home. Eliza is hired to investigate a murder — only to discover that the dead man committed suicide and that the supposed murderer was framed by his wife after she uncovered his homosexuality. With help from Moses, she obtains the necessary evidence to clear the man's name seconds before his execution. Eliza subsequently hires Moses to collect payment from a difficult former client and pays off her lease in full.
3| "Deeds Not Words"| Declan O'Dwyer| Rachael New| 14 April 2020 (2020-04-14)
Duke hires Eliza to go undercover and infiltrate a women's suffrage group campaigning for the vote.
4| "Memento Mori"| Declan O'Dwyer| Ben Edwards| 21 April 2020 (2020-04-21)
Eliza finds herself contacted by a death photographer who seems to be receiving bizarre and threatening messages from beyond the grave. She later makes a surprising discovery about her father and realises that Duke is taking the credit for solving cases that she herself has solved.
5| "Cell 99"| Declan O'Dwyer| Ben Edwards| 28 April 2020 (2020-04-28)
Eliza's discovery of her father's casebook leads her to an abandoned prison on the outskirts of London. She and William investigate what seems like an empty building, but they soon discover that it is the hideout for a criminal gang. William believes Moses is involved, but Eliza defends him.
6| "The Case of Henry Scarlet"| Declan O'Dwyer| Rachael New| 5 May 2020 (2020-05-05)
Eliza discovers that her father's death may have been murder. With time running out, she has to solve a perplexing puzzle.

### Series 2 (2022)[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date [a][7]

|
|
|
|
|

7| 1| "Pandora's Box"| Steve Hughes| Rachael New| 14 June 2022 (2022-06-14)
Eliza is hired to investigate the disappearance of a young woman who works at Wentworth's department store: a case which has already been dismissed by Duke.
8| 2| "The Black Witch Moth"| Steve Hughes| Rachael New| 21 June 2022 (2022-06-21)
Eliza is hired by an insurance company to investigate the theft of a rare sketch by Charles Darwin, but the case becomes more complicated when she finds that the insurance company that hired her doesn't exist.
9| 3| "A Pauper's Grave"| Steve Hughes| Rachael New| 28 June 2022 (2022-06-28)
Eliza is accused of breaking into the city morgue and stealing files when her mother's ring is found there, but the subsequent investigation reveals ties to a series of past thefts.
10| 4| "Angel of Inferno"| Ivan Zivkovic| Rachael New| 5 July 2022 (2022-07-05)
Eliza is hired by a quack doctor to investigate a blackmail case. Meanwhile, rival private detective Patrick Nash tries to force her to join his agency.
11| 5| "Quarter to Midnight"| Ivan Zivkovic| Ben Edwards| 12 July 2022 (2022-07-12)
Duke is offered a promotion to chief inspector that would require him to transfer to Glasgow, while Eliza discovers two murders were inspired by a crime novel.
12| 6| "The Proposal"| Ivan Zivkovic| Ben Edwards and Rachael New| 19 July 2022 (2022-07-19)
After Nash is injured in a murder attempt, he hires Eliza to find the man responsible. Forced to accept the position in Glasgow, Duke struggles to train Oliver Fitzroy, the police commissioner's son, as his replacement.

### Series 3 (2023)[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date [8][b]

|
|
|
|
|

13| 1| "The Vanishing"| Steve Hughes| Rachael New
(story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 8 January 2023 (2023-01-08)
Eliza is hired to investigate the disappearance of a magician, unaware that William is also on the case. William tries to quash the leaking of case information to the press.
14| 2| "Arabella[c]"| Steve Hughes| Sarah-Louise Hawkins| 15 January 2023 (2023-01-15)
William and Eliza investigate a series of thefts at a local restaurant. Eliza encounters her childhood enemy Arabella and comes to suspect that she is involved in the crimes.
15| 3| "Hotel St Marc"| Rachael New[11]| Ben Edwards
(story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 22 January 2023 (2023-01-22)
Eliza tracks down a conman, believing she has finally caught Scotland Yard's most wanted man -- but she is not the only one who hopes to claim the reward.
16| 4| "Bloodline"| Ivan Zivkovic| Ben Edwards
(story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 29 January 2023 (2023-01-29)
Detective Fitzroy hires Eliza to look into a case of police corruption after he sees a colleague plant evidence on a suspect.
17| 5| "The Heir"| Steve Hughes| Dan Muirden| 5 February 2023 (2023-02-05)
Eliza is on the verge of earning life-changing money when she offers to help the heir to an unclaimed fortune.
18| 6| "The Jewel of the North"| Steve Hughes| Ben Edwards
(story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 12 February 2023 (2023-02-12)
Eliza, Nash, Moses, and Wellington are all sent bombs in the post. A robbery has been committed on The Jewel of the North, a train running between London and Liverpool. Everyone must figure out who sent the bombs to them and how the bombs are connected to the train robbery.

### Series 4 (2024)[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title [8]| Directed by| Written by| Original air date [8][b]

|
|
|
|
|

19| 1| "Elysium"| Nimer Rashed| Rachael New (story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 7 January 2024 (2024-01-07)
Eliza has taken over the London office of Nash's agency. However, all but one of the employees have left in protest. She helps Duke investigate a robbery at an "elite gentlemen's club" (a brothel).
20| 2| "Six Feet Under"| Nimer Rashed| Sarah-Louise Hawkins| 14 January 2024 (2024-01-14)
One of Mr Potts's friends is murdered and he turns to Miss Scarlet because the police force is overwhelmed. At the end of the episode, Duke is forced to raid a gang's house despite being short on men and is shot in the chest.
21| 3| "Origins"| Rachael New| Ben Edwards (story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 21 January 2024 (2024-01-21)
Duke is in a coma following the shooting. He has a flashback to when the two first met and solved a murder he had witnessed. At the end of the episode, Duke wakes.
22| 4| "The Diamond Feather"| Nimer Rashed| Rachael New (story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 28 January 2024 (2024-01-28)
Nash returns to London and criticizes Miss Scarlet's handling of his agency. A diamond feather that belonged to Admiral Nelson has been stolen and the two are hired to find it. At the end of the episode, Duke confesses his love of Miss Scarlet to her and announces he will leave to join a New York City police program for a year.
23| 5| "The Calling"| Rachael New| Dan Muirden| 4 February 2024 (2024-02-04)
Eliza and Nash are still struggling to work together and cannot agree on a staff. They are hired to discover the cause of a gas explosion that killed three at a telephone company. After they solve the murder, Nash allows Eliza to choose whom to hire.
24| 6| "The Fugitive"| Milos Kodemo| Ben Edwards (story by Rachael New & Ben Edwards)| 11 February 2024 (2024-02-11)
Nash is accused of murder and goes into hiding. Eliza discovers the victim witnessed the murder of Nash's brother years ago and was killed by the murderer. At the end of the episode, Nash kills the murderer in self-defence and is jailed facing charges for abduction of the murderer and evading arrest. Phelps is promoted to head the division and take over Duke's role while he is in New York.

### Notes[edit]

1. ^ a b Series 1 and 2 were first broadcast in the UK on Alibi. These are the airdates shown here.
2. ^ a b Series 3 and 4 were first broadcast in the US on PBS. These are the airdates shown here.
3. ^ Some sources list the episode title as "Arabella's".[9][10]

## Production[edit]

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 4.[3]

## Broadcast[edit]

The first series began broadcasting on Alibi in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2020,[6] and premiered in the United States on 17 January 2021, as part of PBS's Masterpiece anthology series.[8][12]

A second series was announced by PBS on 29 March 2021.[13] It first aired on Alibi in the UK on 14 June 2022,[7] and later on PBS in the US on 16 October 2022.[8]

Miss Scarlet and The Duke was later renewed for series three and four.[14] Series three premiered on PBS on 8 January 2023 with weekly installments,[8][15][16] though all episodes were made available via the membership video-on-demand service PBS Passport on 24 November 2022.[16][17] Episodes were also released weekly on Amazon Prime Video's PBS Masterpiece subscription channel beginning 24 November 2022.[16] Series four premiered on PBS on 7 January 2024 with weekly installments,[8][18] and all episodes made available that day via PBS Passport.[19]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Clarke, Stewart (3 December 2019). "PBS Masterpiece Picks Up A+E's Period Drama 'Miss Scarlet and the Duke'". Variety.
2. ^ a b "'Miss Scarlet and The Duke' begins filming Season 2 in Belgrade". British Period Dramas. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
3. ^ a b c Rice, Lynette (29 November 2022). "'Miss Scarlet And The Duke' Renewed For Fourth Season By Masterpiece". Deadline. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
4. ^ a b c "Irish-made Miss Scarlet and The Duke lands on Alibi". RTÉ.ie. 26 March 2020.
5. ^ a b "Interview: Miss Scarlet and The Duke's Creator Rachael New". Masterpiece. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
6. ^ a b "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 1: Episodes Guide and Summaries". Next Episode. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
7. ^ a b "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 2: Episodes Guide and Summaries". Next Episode. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
8. ^ a b c d e f g "Shows A-Z – Miss Scarlet and The Duke on PBS". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
9. ^ "Miss Scarlet & The Duke | Season 3 | Episode 2: Arabella's". PBS Passport. PBS. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
10. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Season 3". Prime Video. Amazon. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
11. ^ Lacob, Jace (22 January 2023). "Rachael New Takes A First Go-Round In The Director's Chair". Masterpiece. PBS. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
12. ^ "Miss Scarlet & The Duke: Episode 1: 'Inheritance'". Masterpiece. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
13. ^ "Masterpiece Announces Second Season of Miss Scarlet and The Duke". Masterpiece. 29 March 2021.
14. ^ "Masterpiece Announces Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4". Masterpiece. PBS. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
15. ^ Rice, Lynette (28 July 2022). "Miss Scarlet & The Duke Renewed For Season 3 At PBS Masterpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
16. ^ a b c "Get Ready for Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 3". PBS. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
17. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 3 Episodes List - Next Episode". next-episode.net.
18. ^ "Everything to Know About Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4".
19. ^ "Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 4 Episodes List - Next Episode". next-episode.net.

## External links[edit]

* Miss Scarlet and The Duke at IMDb

*[No.]: Number
*[DS]: Detective Sergeant