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Monarch of the Glen reboot confirms female-led cast – plus Downton Abbey icon in key role

We now know who'll be leading 5's reimagining of the iconic Scottish series.

Isla looking at the camera.

5

Published: Thursday, 6 August 2026 at 3:00 pm

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5 has confirmed the cast for its upcoming revival of Monarch of the Glen, with Karen Pirie star Julia Brown taking on the lead role.

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The new series, which is being produced by Ecosse Films – makers of the original Monarch of the Glen series – and Masterpiece PBS, will be a “fresh” and female-led reimagining of the iconic Scottish series, which aired between 2000 and 2005 and is loosely based on the Highland Novels series by Sir Compton Mackenzie.

Brown will star as main character Isla Campbell (shown above), a high-flying London lawyer who returns to the Highlands for the funeral of her estranged father and discovers that she has inherited a million-pound debt.

With threats from the bank mounting, Isla and her brother, Alasdair, must find a way to save the struggling estate before time runs out.

Morag smiling.

Phyllis Logan as Morag in Monarch of the Glen. 5

Brown is joined in the cast by Chris Fulton (Bridgerton), who plays Alasdair, alongside Ewan Miller (High Value Target) as gamekeeper and family friend Ewan.

Other confirmed cast members include Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey) as Morag, Rishi Nair (The Marlow Murder Club) as businessman Daniel, John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory’s Girl) as longtime family lawyer Fergus and Gordon Kennedy (The Diplomat) as stockman Angus.

Brown said in a statement that she's "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."

Chris Fulton as Alasdair in Monarch of the Glen, wearing a suit and tartan and looking off into the distance.

Chris Fulton as Alasdair in Monarch of the Glen. 5

The revival is created, written and executive produced by Jeremy Brock (A Very Royal Scandal), alongside writer Stephen Greenhorn (Dept Q), while Tom Vaughan (Doctor Foster) serves as director and executive producer.

Logan added: "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. 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."

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The series is expected to air on 5 and Masterpiece PBS in 2027.

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Authors

RadioTimes.com senior trends writer Molly Moss. She is sitting outside wearing a black top, holding a white teacup with a smily face on it to her mouth

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.

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