Areimagining of the BBC’s hit drama Monarch of the Glen is coming to Channel 5. The popular noughties show, which starred Alastair Mackenzie, Richard Briers, Susan Hampshire and Dawn Steele, is being rebooted in a “rich, romantic and humorous family saga”.

The original series, which aired from 2000 to 2005, follows Archie (Alastair Mackenzie), a London restaurateur who’s forced to return home to the Highlands to manage his family’s crumbling estate. However, the new six-part drama focuses on a new character, London lawyer Isla Campbell.

Alastair Mackenzie in Monarch of the Glen© BBC
Alastair Mackenzie starred as Archie in Monarch of the Glen

I’m certainly adding Monarch of the Glen to my watchlist. Not only does the series come from Ecosse Films, who made the original drama, but it’s created and penned by Jeremy Brock (A Very Royal Scandal), alongside writer Stephen Greenhorn (Sunshine on Leith, Dept. Q) – so it’s safe to say the reboot is in safe hands.

Having missed the original series when it first aired, I’m so pleased that the iconic, much-loved drama is being rebooted for a new generation of viewers. Plus, co-producer Masterpiece PBS is behind some of my favourite cosy dramas, including All Creatures Great and Small and Grantchester, so it’s safe to say fans can expect a high-quality, entertaining series.

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Keep reading to find out more…

What is Monarch of the Glen about?

The new series follows high-flying London lawyer Isla Campbell, who finds herself back at her family’s crumbling Highland estate for her estranged father’s funeral.

Her plan to be gone within a few days is abandoned when she discovers she has inherited a million-pound debt, a bank closing in, and a brother who refuses to let go of their ancestral home.

Susan Hampshire in Monarch of the Glen© BBC
Susan Hampshire starred in the original series

The synopsis continued: “Under the same roof for the first time in years, brother and sister will have to find a way to save the struggling estate before time runs out and they lose it for good. The show will transport us to the stunning Scottish Highlands each week while introducing a rich ensemble of unforgettable new characters.

“This family saga promises heart, humour and romance – bound together by breathtaking landscapes, roaring hearths, and the people who call this wild corner of the world home.”

Casting details have yet to be announced.

What to expect from the show

Creator, writer and executive producer Jeremy Brock said the drama is 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.”

Rachel Shenton and Nicholas Ralph play husband and wife © 5
The new reboot is co-produced by the co-makers of All Creatures Great and Small producer, Masterpiece PBS

Meanwhile, Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted at Paramount UK, teased the show as a “crowd-pleasing” and “rich family saga with heart and humour at its core”.

When will Monarch of the Glen be released?

Production and filming for the new series will take place in Scotland and Northern Ireland later this year. A release date has yet to be announced, but we can speculate that a 2027 release is likely.