The Daring Miss Scarlet is Back!

She’s taking on an ambitious case load and attracting the attention of her rivals

• Christina Zeiders
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  Christina Zeiders is the Communications Specialist at WITF. She helps get the word out about all of WITF's programs, events and community conversations.

MASTERPIECE’s dueling detectives return for a new season of captivating cases set in Victorian-era London on Miss Scarlet and the Duke, starring Kate Phillips (Wolf Hall) as private eye Eliza Scarlet and Stuart Martin (Medici) as her fiery friend, Inspector William “The Duke” Wellington of Scotland Yard.

In an era of tight corsets and strict patriarchy, Eliza Scarlet is England’s first female private eye… and the nation’s finest detective. To his credit, Duke is a natural-born crime-buster who is destined for high office at Scotland Yard.

Along with the help – or hindrance – of William, Eliza is aided by her odd-job man Moses (Ansu Kabia, World on Fire), her wise housekeeper Ivy (Cathy Belton, Hidden Asset), and her protégé, Hattie (Jessie Cave, Harry Potter).

“It was an absolute joy diving back into Eliza and Duke’s world and I just know the fans are going to love what we have in store for them,” notes creator, writer, and executive producer Rachael New. “As with season one we have action, adventure, romance, and more. The world of Scarlet is as vibrant as ever with new friends and some new foes for our duo to deal with. And as usual Eliza and Duke will be crashing into each other’s orbit, stepping on each other’s toes – there will never be a dull moment between these two. I can’t wait for Season 2 to explode onto the screen!”

The cast also includes Duke’s new boss Superintendent, Monro (Ian Pirie, Guilt). His boss puts politics over policing and demands Duke mentor the inept Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe, Doctor Who), son of Police Commissioner Fitzroy (Michael Simkin, This Is Going To Hurt). Charlie Phelps (Tim Chippings, Liar) rounds out the cast as a rough-around-the-edges detective at Scotland Yard.

The new season presents a slew of new investigations – a search for a missing drawing by Charles Darwin, a murder that mimics the plot of a mystery novel, a poisoning scheme, and a grave-robbing conspiracy. On the side, Eliza helps Hattie dodge prospective marriage partners proposed by her aunt (Helen Norton, Cracks), by conveniently finding scandals associated with all.

Eliza is so good at her job that a rival detective agency led by Patrick Nash (Felix Scott, Grantchester) takes note and tries to recruit her to join their firm. If only the Duke would take her as seriously!

In episode one alone, the sister of a missing woman hires Eliza to solve a case the police considered closed. You can imagine that leads to new tension between Eliza and the Duke.

“Sherlock Holmes only had to solve the crime,” says Susanne Simpson, executive producer of MASTERPIECE. “But Eliza also has to deal with society’s low opinion of women. In her audacious way, she turns being underrated into an advantage!”

Watch Miss Scarlet and the Duke Sundays at 8pm, starting October 16, on WITF TV or the PBS Video app. You can stream each episode of the season for free for just 12 days following each episode’s television premiere.

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WITF Passport members can binge the entire second season on the same night as its television premiere, October 16! If you’re not a WITF Passport member, become one today with a gift of at least $5 a month or $60 a year! You’ll join a streaming community that supports the important education, news, and entertainment WITF works to provide its community every day.