Miss Scarlet and the Duke heading to UKTV’s Alibi
December 3, 2019
By Nik Roseveare
Miss Scarlet and the Duke, a 19th century crime drama co-produced by A+E International and Element 8 Entertainment, has been acquired by UKTV’s Alibi channel and will premiere in early 2020.
The six episode series will also make its US debut around the same time as a MASTERPIECE presentation anticipated release on PBS. It has also been sold to Yandex (CIS), Seven Network (Australia), Lightbox (New Zealand), RTL Germany and OTE Cosmote TV (Greece).
“We are absolutely thrilled with the global momentum for this new series, built on a strong line-up of top tier international broadcasters and kicking off under the auspices of the world renowned, multi-award-winning MASTERPIECE franchise,” said Patrick Vien, Group Managing Director, International, A+E Networks International. “It is also extremely gratifying that our co-pro division has taken flight in a such short time with this series and a number of other scripted and unscripted projects already in the works.”
Miss Scarlet and the Duke tells the story of the first ever female detective in Victorian London. When Eliza Scarlet’s father dies, he leaves her penniless in a time where marriage is the only option for financial security. But the headstrong Eliza has an ace up her bonnet; her father’s business, a detective agency. But to operate in this man’s world she needs a partner. Step forward consummate rogue Detective Inspector William Wellington of Scotland Yard, aka ‘The Duke’. Eliza and Duke strike up a mismatched, fiery relationship as they team up to solve crime in the murkiest depths of 1880s London.
Miss Scarlet and the Duke stars Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Downton Abbey feature film) as Miss Scarlet opposite Stuart Martin (Medici, Jamestown), as the Duke.
SAG Award-winning actor Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey) portrays Eliza Scarlet’s late father, Henry Scarlet, whilst Andrew Gower (Carnival Row, Black Mirror, Outlander) plays Rupert Parker, Eliza’s business partner and friend.
Produced in Dublin, Miss Scarlet and the Duke is created and written by Rachael New (Grantchester for ITV, The Mallorca Files for BBC). Ben Edwards (Trollied, Stella) is a contributing writer. The series is directed by Declan O’Dwyer (Free Rein, Atlantis) and also features Helen Norton (Ella Enchanted, Raw), Cathy Belton (Philomena, Red Rock) and Danny Midwinter (From Hell, Interview with a Hitman). Todd Berger, Patrick Irwin, Jin Ishimoto, Patricia Lenahan Ishimoto, Harvey Myman, Rachael New and Declan O’Dwyer are executive producers.