Channel 5 has confirmed a new version of the iconic drama series Monarch of the Glen, which was originally axed by the BBC in 2005. The reimagined series is set to air in 2027 on Channel 5 and MASTERPIECE PBS.
Original Series Legacy
The original show, produced by Ecosse Films, was loosely based on the Highland Novels by Sir Compton Mackenzie. It aired on BBC One for seven series from 2000 to 2005, becoming a Sunday night staple.
The first five series followed restaurateur Archie MacDonald as he tried to restore his childhood home in the Scottish Highlands, starring Alastair Mackenzie, Richard Briers, Susan Hampshire, and Dawn Steele. The final two series shifted focus to new Laird Paul Bowman, played by Lloyd Owen, alongside Tom Baker, Alexander Morton, and Susan Hampshire.
New Cast and Storyline
The new series will star Julia Brown (World on Fire, Karen Pirie) as Isla Campbell, a London lawyer who returns to her family's crumbling Highland estate for her estranged father's funeral. She discovers she has inherited a million-pound debt and a brother, Alasdair, played by Chris Fulton (Bridgerton, Outlander), who refuses to give up their ancestral home. The siblings must work together to save the estate before time runs out.
Additional cast members include Ewan Miller as gamekeeper Ewan, Rishi Nair as businessman Daniel, Phyllis Logan as Morag, John Gordon Sinclair as family lawyer Fergus, and Gordon Kennedy as stockman Angus.
Production Details
Filming is currently underway in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The original series was filmed in the Cairngorms, Badenoch, and Strathspey, with the fictional Ben Bogle replacing Ben Nevis. Further details about the new series are expected to be announced later.
