Miss Scarlet and The Duke

Miss Scarlet and The Duke is a British-Irish period crime television drama created by Rachael New, starring Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin as a pair of Victorian investigators.^[1][2] The first series began broadcasting on Alibi on 31 March 2020.^[3]

The series premiered in the US on 17 January 2021, as part of PBS's Masterpiece anthology series.^[4] Miss Scarlet and The Duke was the first series that PBS purchased from, or co-produced with, a British channel other than the BBC, Channel 4, or ITV. In Canada, it airs on CBC Gem.

A second season was announced on March 29, 2021 by Masterpiece PBS.^[5]

Plot[]

In Victorian London (1882), Eliza Scarlet is left almost penniless when her father, Henry Scarlet, unexpectedly dies. Although marriage would appear to be the only option for a woman’s financial security, Eliza resolves to continue 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 old friend William Wellington (Duke), a gruff, womanising Detective Inspector of Scotland Yard, to help her acquire cases, but this seldom works. Instead, Eliza often resorts to stealing case files from William's office. William is known in the police force as "The Duke", a nickname referring to the Duke of Wellington. Eliza's late father Henry had saved William from the London streets as a child, and later mentored him through the police academy. When William and Eliza were teenagers they once shared a chaste kiss. William looked up to Henry as an honourable and good man. Though William is irritated by Eliza's detective aspirations, he cares for her and gradually begins to show respect for her skills.

Eliza Scarlet is determined, clever, and wily. Series writer and creator Rachael New took inspiration for the character from Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice) and Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. Born into a middle-class family, Eliza uses her appearance as a refined Victorian lady to her advantage when working on cases. But underneath Eliza is scrappy and feisty, much to many people's surprise, which works in her favour. William and Eliza work on numerous cases together, though she is uncredited, causing disputes between them. Eliza employs the services of a known criminal, Moses, much to William's annoyance. Moses is amused by Eliza's gumption and they connect as outsiders to society. Eliza befriends Rupert Parker, a wealthy man who loans her money for her agency as an investment. Rupert is the bachelor (and secretly gay) son of Mrs. Parker, who owns Eliza's house, and relies on Eliza's advice to navigate his personal life. Eliza lives with Ivy, who cooks for her and 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.

Cast[]

• Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet
• Stuart Martin as William Wellington a.k.a 'The Duke'
• Danny Midwinter as Frank Jenkins
• Ansu Kabia as Moses
• Andrew Gower as Rupert Parker
• Matthew Malone as PC Honeychurch
• Cathy Belton as Ivy
• Kevin Doyle as Henry Scarlet

Episodes[]

Production[]

The series was shot in Dublin.^[2][7] The street where Eliza Scarlet lives is Mountpleasant Square, Ranelagh, Dublin. You can see the dome of Rathmines Church in some street scenes. The Police Station where the Duke works is the CBS Westland Row in Cumberland Street. Although part of the skyline is CGI including the train tunnel arches which are not open in reality. There is a train station, Pearse Station behind the school with St Andrew's Church alongside.

A second season was announced on March 29th 2021 by Masterpiece PBS.^[8]

References[]

External links[]

• Miss Scarlet and The Duke at IMDb