This British Crime Drama Takes ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and Mixes It With Sherlock Holmes

British television has long mastered the art of the detective drama, especially when it comes to pairing sharp mysteries with irresistible character dynamics. From Sherlock to Broadchurch to Line of Duty, the genre thrives not just on clever cases, but on the chemistry between detectives navigating the professional and personal tensions of their partnerships. That character-first approach is one of the reasons British crime dramas consistently stand out. And while many of these stories are rooted in the modern era, one series proves that a richly character-driven mystery works just as well in the past.

With five seasons currently streaming on PBS Masterpiece and Season 6 set to premiere in January 2026, Miss Scarlet and The Duke is a Victorian-era crime drama that feels like Sherlock Holmes filtered through the romantic tension of Pride and Prejudice. The series blends case-of-the-week mysteries with layered character work, anchored by a fictional and refreshingly rare female private detective. It’s yet another example of how British television excels at making procedural storytelling feel intimate, character-driven, and deeply addictive.

What Is ‘Miss Scarlet and the Duke’ About?

Set in 1880s London, Miss Scarlet and The Duke follows Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) after the sudden death of her father, Henry (Kevin Doyle), a private detective. Determined to keep his business alive, Eliza steps into his role and begins taking on cases herself. Having grown up watching her father work, she’s incredibly knowledgeable, observant, and deeply attuned to human behavior. But in a society that refuses to take women seriously, Eliza is often met with laughter and disbelief, and she even has to contend with clients who refuse to pay for her work simply because she’s a woman.

At a time when women are expected to marry rather than investigate crimes, Eliza chooses independence, pursuing a career that she’s been inadvertently trained for her entire life. She struggles to retain clients, but when given the opportunity, she turns their underestimation into an advantage, solving cases while brushing off patronizing remarks and backhanded insults, mostly from men who never expect her to outthink them. That determination places Eliza at the center of some of London’s most dangerous and intriguing cases, and as a woman, she’s often able to connect with clients other investigators would overlook. Each season sees Eliza tackling murders, blackmail schemes, missing persons, and political corruption, often using her gender to navigate spaces and social circles closed off to male investigators.

Her professional life is closely intertwined with William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin), a Scotland Yard detective and her longtime friend. The two share a complicated history filled with simmering romantic tension and ideological clashes. While The Duke is bound by doing things by the book, Eliza is forced to be scrappy and operate outside the system, creating a dynamic that recalls some of the best detective partnerships. Yet even within that pairing, Eliza is the clear standout. The series consistently centers on her perspective and growth, making it as much a character study, setting the stage for why Eliza Scarlet remains the show’s greatest strength.

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Kate Phillips is a Standout as Eliza Scarlet in ‘Miss Scarlet and The Duke’

What truly sets Miss Scarlet and The Duke apart is Eliza herself. Audiences may recognize Kate Phillips from her work in Wolf Hall, The Crown, and Peaky Blinders, but she truly shines as Eliza Scarlet. Phillips makes Eliza completely believable as witty, compassionate, and brilliant, bringing a quiet confidence to the role that never tips into showiness. There’s a distinctly Sherlock Holmes–esque quality to the way Eliza pieces together a mystery, driven more by observation and insight than brute force. Phillips also has effortless on-screen chemistry, whether she’s sparring with series regulars or sharing scenes with guest stars who hire her, belittle her, or ultimately find themselves under her sharp scrutiny.

The series undergoes a notable shift after Stuart Martin’s departure at the end of Season 4, forcing Eliza to fully step into her own without William “The Duke” Wellington as her primary counterbalance. That transition reinforces a central truth about the show: Eliza’s journey has always been about self-definition, not just romance. The introduction of Alexander Blake (Tom Durant Pritchard), a former soldier turned Scotland Yard inspector, brings a fresh dynamic. Blake is unfazed by Eliza’s role as a private detective but initially cuts off police collaboration with private investigators altogether, setting up a tense professional rivalry built on mutual respect rather than familiarity. Their uneasy partnership expands Eliza’s world while preserving the show’s core focus on her independence.

Miss Scarlet and The Duke is a perfect example of why British crime dramas continue to resonate so strongly. It blends smart mysteries, period detail, and richly drawn characters with a slow-burn dynamic that’s both romantic and intellectually engaging. With Season 6 set to air in January, now is the ideal time to catch up on the first five seasons and experience one of the most confident and charming detective series currently on television. Whether you’re drawn to the cases, the period drama, or the strong characters, Miss Scarlet and The Duke delivers on all three.

All five seasons of Miss Scarlet and The Duke are available to stream on PBS Masterpiece. Season six premieres on January 11, 2026.

Release Date

March 31, 2020

Network

PBS

Showrunner

Rachel New

Writers

Rachel New

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