Miss Scarlet and The Duke

Lore & Background

Set in Victorian London in 1882, the series follows Eliza Scarlet, who inherits her late father Henry's private detective agency and struggles to establish herself in a male-dominated profession. She frequently calls on her childhood friend William Wellington, a gruff Scottish detective inspector at Scotland Yard known as 'The Duke,' for assistance. William was saved from the streets by Eliza's father and mentored by him, creating a complex bond of irritation, care, and subtle flirtation between the two. Eliza also relies on a Jamaican criminal named Moses for help navigating London's underworld, and befriends the wealthy, secretly gay Rupert Parker, who provides her with loans.

Reader's Guide

Miss Scarlet and The Duke is significant as a period crime drama that centers on a female detective in Victorian London, drawing inspiration from Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet. The series ran for six series, with a notable turnover after series 4 when Stuart Martin departed and the show was retitled Miss Scarlet. Production moved from Dublin, Ireland (series 1) to Belgrade, Serbia (from series 2 onward). The show's reception highlighted the brevity and blend of mystery-of-the-week with overarching storylines. Its legacy includes exploring Eliza's growth beyond the Duke's presence, with the creators choosing not to kill off his character to leave narrative options open. A seventh and final series is in production as of 2026.

Did You Know?

• The first series was filmed in Dublin, Ireland, with Eliza's home exterior shot on Mount Pleasant Square, Ranelagh.
• From series 2 onward, production moved to Belgrade, Serbia.
• The show was retitled Miss Scarlet starting with series 5 after Stuart Martin's character William 'the Duke' Wellington was written out.
• Creator Rachael New took inspiration for Eliza's character from Elizabeth Bennet of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.