Alexander Blake is a former soldier who replaces William at Scotland Yard. Credit: Masterpiece on PBS

Masterpiece on PBS recently announced that Kate Phillips (Peaky  Blinders) would return as Miss Eliza Scarlet, Victorian London’s first ever female detective, for a fifth season of investigations. The series will be retitled, Miss Scarlet but Stuart Martin (Jamestown), who played Scotland Yark detective William “The Duke” Wellington in the previous four seasons, will not return for Season 5.

Stuart Martin as ‘The Duke’ in Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Photo: Masterpiece on PBS

While The Duke will be missed by many and this will mean a definite shift in the series, Miss Scarlet will not only welcome back many cast members from previous seasons, including Evan McCabe as Detective Fitzroy, Cathy Belton as Ivy, Felix Scott as Patrick Nash, Paul Bazely as Clarence, Simon Ludders as Mr. Potts, and Tim Chipping as Detective Phelps, but there is a new ‘Duke’ in town for series 5 as Tom Durant Pritchard (Endeavour, The Crown) stars as former soldier, Alexander Blake, who replaces William at Scotland Yard.

It does appear that Eliza Scarlet’s new counterpart will continue to antagonize and perhaps occasionally charm her but he’s not entirely shocked to see a woman detective. That said, he won’t give Eliza work because he has resolved not to work with private detectives even though they continually run into each other as they both work cases in London.

Speaking of his time on Miss Scarlet, Martin notes, “It has been such an incredible joy to bring Duke to life through Rachael’s beautiful, brilliant writing, and to get to play him for the past four years. 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!”, Martin added.

Kate Phillips says, “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. I can’t wait for fans to see what we have in store for Season 5.”

Kate Phillips as Miss Eliza Scarlet. Photo: Masterpiece on PBS

For those the need a quick catch-up before S5 premieres on PBS, you can stream Miss Scarlet and The Duke Seasons 1-4 of the show when you watch with PBS Passport.

In: Mystery