Channel 5 Announces Monarch of the Glen Revival

Channel 5 has announced a revival of the beloved Scottish drama Monarch of the Glen, nearly two decades after the original series concluded on BBC One in 2005. The six-part reimagining, set in the Scottish Highlands, centers on a new female protagonist and is slated to begin filming later this year in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The original show, which aired from 2000 to 2005 across seven series and 64 episodes, drew peak audiences of eight million viewers. Loosely inspired by Sir Compton Mackenzie's Highland novels, it followed London restaurateur Archie MacDonald, played by Alastair Mackenzie, as he returned to his family's decaying estate, Glenbogle, in the Cairngorms. Later seasons shifted focus to Paul Bowman, portrayed by Lloyd Owen, who sought to modernize the property. Key cast members included Richard Briers as the eccentric Hector MacDonald, Susan Hampshire as Molly MacDonald, and Dawn Steele as Lexie MacDonald. All episodes remain available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

In a significant departure, the new series introduces high-flying London lawyer Isla Campbell, who returns to her family's crumbling Highland estate for her estranged father's funeral. Expecting a...