It was one of the most popular shows of the early 2000s, with the UK enthralled by the anarchic ups and downs of the Highland Glenbogle estate.
And now Monarch of the Glen is set to return to screens for the first time in more than two decades, with a fresh re‑imagining of the iconic series which captured the hearts of viewers.
TV channel 5 has announced it will return to the Scottish Highlands for a new run of the show, promising a “rich, romantic and humorous family saga rooted in legacy, love and survival”.
The original Monarch of the Glen was a BBC comedy‑drama set on a fictional estate in the Scottish Highlands, which ran for seven seasons between 2000 and 2005 and was broadcast on BBC One.
Across 64 episodes, it initially starred Alastair Mackenzie as Archie MacDonald, a reluctant young laird trying to save his family’s debt‑ridden estate, alongside Susan Hampshire, Dawn Steele, Richard Briers and Hamish Clark.
In later seasons, the focus shifted to Archie’s half‑brother Paul Bowman, played by Lloyd Owen, as the estate grappled with modernisation and changing rural life.
The series is loosely based on Sir Compton Mackenzie's Highland Novels, set in the same location but in the 1930s and 1940s.
The BBC show pulled in more than 8 million at the peak in the first series, with millions watching each one after
Filmed largely at Ardverikie Estate near Kinloch Laggan, the show was produced by Ecosse Films and became one of the BBC’s most popular drama series of the early 2000s.
The remake will see the main character’s gender flipped, with high‑flying London lawyer Isla Campbell finding herself back at her family’s crumbling estate for her estranged father’s funeral, expecting to be gone in days.
Instead, 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.
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.
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Casting for the main roles has not been revealed, but the show’s writing team is deeply rooted in Scottish TV and film hits. Production and filming for the new series will take place in Scotland and Northern Ireland later this year.
Written and executive produced by Jeremy Brock, whose previous credits include A Very Royal Scandal, The Last King of Scotland and Mrs Brown, the new show also features work by writer Stephen Greenhorn, best known for Sunshine on Leith, Dept. Q and River City.
Jeremy Brock said: “When I was offered the chance to re‑imagine Monarch of the Glen, I leapt at it. 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.”
Tom Vaughan, who has worked on Doctor Foster and Victoria, serves as director and executive producer.
The producing team includes Alex Boyd (How to Get to Heaven from Belfast), alongside Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae, whose previous credits include Monarch of the Glen, The Trial of Christine Keeler, The Great Escaper and Fleming. They are joined by executive producers Rob Darnell and Adam Duncan for Ecosse Films.
Susanne Simpson serves as executive producer for Masterpiece PBS.
The series is being produced by Ecosse Films, the company behind the original Monarch of the Glen, alongside Masterpiece PBS.
The production is being made in association with Northern Ireland Screen, with Banijay Rights — the global distribution arm of Banijay Entertainment — handling international sales.
It was commissioned by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted at Paramount UK, together with Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor for Channel 5. Further development funding was provided by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland.
Sebastian Cardwell said: “Monarch of the Glen is a much‑loved series, and this reimagining brings it back to life for a new generation. It’s a rich family saga with heart and humour at its core.
“With Jeremy Brock’s brilliant storytelling and the outstanding team at Ecosse Films, this is exactly the kind of big‑hearted, crowd‑pleasing drama that sits at the heart of 5.”
Robert Bernstein, Head of Drama and Producer at Ecosse Films, added: “Monarch of the Glen holds a very special place in our hearts, and we are absolutely thrilled to be bringing this beloved show to the next generation of viewers.
“We are delighted to have a writer of Jeremy Brock’s extraordinary calibre at the helm of the series, alongside an outstandingly talented team boarding the project. At a time when family and community feel more important than ever, we can’t wait to welcome audiences back to the Highlands to fall in love with Monarch of the Glen all over again.”
Susanne Simpson, Head of Scripted Content and Executive Producer of Masterpiece, said: “I know the warmth, humour and romance in this new version of Monarch of the Glen are exactly what our American audience looks for in a Masterpiece series. I’m delighted to bring Jeremy Brock’s excellent work and the beauty of the Highlands to US television screens.”
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