EXCLUSIVE: Monarch of the Glen was a huge hit and is now coming back to the small screen on Channel 5
Phyllis Logan takes on the role of Isla’s aunt Morag(Image: Steffan Hill)
World on Fire’s Julia Brown is to take the lead role in the new Monarch of the Glen drama for Channel 5, which boasts a host of big name stars among the cast.
They include Downton Abbey star Phyllis Logan, Gregory’s Girl favourite John Gordon Sinclair, Grantchester’s Rishi Nair and Bridgerton’s Chris Fulton.
This time around the main character is female, meaning Archie, played by Alistair Mckenzie, has now transformed into Isla Campbell. Scottish actress Julia, 29, is best known as Lois Bennett in BBC1’s wartime series World on Fire.
Phyllis Logan – who played Downton’s much-loved housekeeper Mrs Hughes across all six series and the three films – is Isla’s aunt Morag, taking on the lead matriarch role formerly played by Susan Hampshire as Molly.
John Gordon Sinclair, 64, serves as longtime family lawyer Fergus in the story, loosely based on the Highland Novels series by Sir Compton Mackenzie.
In the plot Isla’s estranged father has died meaning she has been called home from her high-flying job in London. She finds herself back at her family’s crumbling Highland estate for the funeral, expecting to be gone again in just a few days.
Instead, she discovers she has inherited a million-pound debt, a bank closing in, and her brother Alasdair, played by Fulton, refusing to let go of their ancestral home.
Phyllis told the Mirror she was thrilled to be involved in the new series, which has been described as a “fresh re-imagining” of the original. ”Monarch of the Glen holds such a special place in people’s hearts, so it’s a real privilege to be part of its return,” she said. “The scripts are full of wit, warmth and wonderful characters, and I’m delighted to be working alongside this brilliant cast and crew. It will be great fun to welcome audiences back to Scotland.”
Julia agreed: “I’m so excited to be stepping into the world of Monarch of the Glen and bringing Isla Campbell to life. Isla is ambitious, sharp and fiercely independent, but returning home to Scotland forces her to confront her past, her family and a future she never expected. I am so, so proud to be joining such a talented cast and cannot wait to bring this heartfelt story to audiences.”
The show is not a direct remake of the first one, which ran for seven series and a Hogmanay special between 2000 and 2005. But insiders said that in “a loose way” Isla takes over from Archie, while Phyllis as Morag replaces the role previously held by his mother Molly (Hampshire) . As Fergus – who was Isla’s late father’s best friend – John Gordon Sinclair is taking on the past previously held by Richard Briers as Archie’s father Hector, but he also has traits similar to Lord Kilwillie, the neighbour formerly played by Julian Fellowes.
Further casting includes The Gray House actor Ewan Miller as gamekeeper and family friend Ewan – previously played by Line of Duty’s Martin Compston – and The Diplomat’s Gordon Kennedy as stockman Angus.
Filming is now underway in Scotland, although Ardverikie Estate is no longer doubling as Glenbogle. Producers said no details of the new location would be released until after the shoot ends.
The six-part series is being made by Ecosse Films, makers of the BBC’s original Monarch of the Glen, who have promised a “rich, romantic and humorous family saga rooted in legacy, love and survival” and also a “rich ensemble of unforgettable new characters”.
Series creator is Jeremy Brock, the writer of A Very Royal Scandal, The Last King of Scotland and Mrs Brown, who will also executive produce. He said he “leapt” at the chance to reboot Monarch of the Glen. “I’m hugely excited by the opportunity to tell a story of family life and finding your place in our hectic world – one that celebrates the warmth, humour and eccentricities of a special community, with both optimism and authenticity. Hope and joy are a currency in short supply right now, and the Highlands – one of the most magical places on Earth – felt like exactly the right home for them.”
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