Miss Scarlet Makes a Solo Debut in Season 5 - The Duke's Departure

Miss Scarlet and the Duke Stuart Martin Announces Exit

Dunja Dopsaj/MASTERPIECE

PBS Masterpiece announced on Thursday, February 29, that actor Stuart Martin is leaving Miss Scarlet and The Duke ahead of season 5. Miss Eliza Scarlet, played by Kate Phillips, will return for the new season without her Scotland Yard detective partner, William “The Duke” Wellington. As a result, the show will be renamed Miss Scarlet for season 5.

“It has been an incredible joy to bring Duke to life through Rachael New’s brilliant writing,” said Martin, 38, confirming his departure after four seasons. He added, “It felt like the time was right for Scarlet to explore new stories and challenges as the show continues to grow and evolve.”

The Scottish actor expressed, “I will miss working with my amazing partner in crime Kate and the rest of our brilliant family and team.” He continued, “But I’m excited to continue following Eliza and her escapades as a huge fan and newly enrolled Scarleteer!”

Phillips, 34, shared that she will miss seeing her friend Stu daily and mentioned that Eliza will also miss her Duke. However, she expressed excitement for what Season 5 has in store for fans.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke Stuart Martin Announces Exit

Kate Phillips stars as Miss Scarlet and Stuart Martin as William Wellington (The Duke) in the series Sever Zolak/MASTERPIECE.

The creator of the series also teased about Eliza's future, mentioning, "We will miss our Duke, but there is a lot in store for Eliza - fresh crimes, new friends, new enemies, and a new romance. She will have her hands full!"

Fans, including ourselves, were disappointed to learn that Eliza and William's love story appeared to have been abruptly ended. Since the show's debut in 2020, Eliza has been struggling to conceal her feelings for William, whom she first encountered as a teenager. However, by season 4, their emotions finally surfaced.

Following William's injury at work, Eliza and her housekeeper played a crucial role in helping him recover fully by the fourth episode of season 4, which aired in January. Despite his recovery, William informed Eliza that he had accepted a job in New York for a year "because I love you."

Eliza was left speechless by the omission, but William reassured her that it would "give us the time to consider our options" and determine if they were truly meant to be. Despite their passionate kiss, he still departed.

On February 25, a user expressed disappointment, stating, "Nothing to watch since Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 4 is over. The Duke finally confessed his love to Miss Scarlet this season. I am eagerly anticipating season 5."

Fans expressed their outrage over the open-ended love story when they learned that Martin would not be reprising his role.

One user wrote via X on Thursday, "What do you mean the Duke isn’t coming back? Miss Scarlet and Who??" Another pointed out, "What do you mean it’s Miss Scarlet AND the Duke??? What do you mean he’s leaving and you’re renaming the show??? It doesn’t make any sense!!!"

A gif was shared by a third user featuring Everybody Loves Raymond’s Marie saying, “This is why we can’t have nice things”, along with a gif of Kitty on That ‘70s Show pouring alcohol in a blender to drown away her sorrow. The fan captioned the X post as “’Miss Scarlet’ … the most devastating thing ever.”

Editor's P/S:

The departure of Stuart Martin from "Miss Scarlet and The Duke" has left fans reeling. The show's central love story between Eliza and William has been abruptly ended, leaving viewers disappointed and confused. The renaming of the show to "Miss Scarlet" further emphasizes the absence of The Duke, a character who has been integral to the series.

This decision has sparked outrage among fans who have invested in the chemistry and development of Eliza and William's relationship. The open-ended nature of their farewell in the season 4 finale has left many yearning for closure and a satisfying resolution. The lack of clarity surrounding William's departure and the show's future direction has created a sense of uncertainty and frustration among viewers.