While the series will most certainly be returning for an exciting fifth season, unfortunately it will be without William \u2018The Duke\u2019 Wellington, as actor Stuart Martin is exciting the show.<\/p>\n
So, going forward, the show will now be known as Miss Scarlet from season 5, with actress Kate Phillips reprising her now sole lead role as Miss Eliza Scarlet.<\/p>\n
The news will undoubtedly come as a surprise to fans of the period drama, who have watched over the previous four seasons to find out what cases our Victorian era detectives will face.<\/p>\n
Announcing his departure from the series, Martin said in a statement on Thursday (29th February): \u201cIt has been such an incredible joy to bring Duke to life through [series creator] Rachael [New]\u2019s beautiful, brilliant writing, and to get to play him for the past four years.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will miss working with my amazing partner in crime Kate and the rest of our brilliant family and team, but I\u2019m excited to continue following Eliza and her escapades as a huge fan and newly enrolled Scarleteer!\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Kate](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/miss-scarlet-duke-season-4-pbs-a50d248.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"miss-scarlet-duke-season-4-pbs\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>Phillips also said in her own statement: \u201cI 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\u2019t wait for fans to see what we have in store for season 5.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Phillips won\u2019t be coming back to the series by herself, as returning cast members include 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.<\/p>
It\u2019s safe to say that the news has shocked longtime fans of the show, with many taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their thoughts over the upcoming season.<\/p>\n
One fan wrote<\/a>: \u201cI loved watching Miss Scarlet& the Duke! I loved William & his character! & most importantly their romance, the slow burn\u2026why make him finally confess he loves her if he was leaving? S05 will be about Eliza & her cases? Or watch her fall for someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n Another commented<\/a>: \u201cThis one annoys me to no end. It\u2019s literally Miss Scarlet AND THE DUKE.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Production for the new season is currently underway in Belgrade, Serbia, with a release date for season 5 yet to be announced \u2013 but there\u2019s still plenty in store for Miss Scarlet.<\/p>\n As series creator Rachael New has said of the news: \u201cWe will miss our Duke, but there is so much in store for Eliza \u2013 new crimes, new friends, new foes and new romance. We will be keeping her very busy!\u201d<\/p>\n Debuting back in 2020, the show follows Miss Scarlet, who was initially left penniless after her father unexpectedly died.<\/p>\n She resolved to take over her father\u2019s detective agency alone, and would call on William, aka the Duke, to aid her in her cases as he worked at Scotland Yard.<\/p>\n Over the seasons, the pair have faced numerous cases together and developed an increasingly close relationship \u2013 whether we\u2019ll see this addressed at all in season 5, we\u2019ll just have to wait and see.<\/p>\n\n