New Monarch of the Glen Cast Revealed, Including Phyllis Logan and Julia Brown
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Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Stefanie Hutson
More than 20 years after the original Monarch of the Glen ended, a new version is heading back to the Scottish Highlands, offering a bit of Highland escapism for a new generation of viewers.
Julia Brown (World on Fire, Karen Pirie) and Chris Fulton (Bridgerton, Outlander) will lead the six-part series as Isla and Alasdair Campbell, a brother and sister trying to save their family’s struggling Highland estate.
What Is the New Monarch of the Glen About?
Brown stars as Isla Campbell, a successful London lawyer who returns to Scotland for the funeral of her estranged father. She expects the visit to last only a few days, but soon discovers that her inheritance comes with serious problems. The family estate is crumbling, there is a million-pound debt, and the bank is closing in.
Her brother Alasdair, played by Fulton, has no intention of giving up their ancestral home. With the siblings living under the same roof for the first time in years, they will have to find a way to save the estate before it is lost for good.
The series is being described as a family saga with elements of romance and humour, with the Highland estate and its surrounding community once again providing the setting. Whether it will have that delightful and endlessly re-watchable “frozen in time” feeling that the first had remains to be seen.
Who’s in the Cast of the New Monarch of the Glen?
Julia Brown leads the cast as Isla Campbell. Brown previously appeared as Lois Bennett in World on Fire and also appeared in Karen Pirie. Chris Fulton plays her brother Alasdair. His previous credits include Bridgerton and Outlander.
Ewan Miller (High Value Target, The Gray House) plays Ewan, a gamekeeper and longtime friend of the family, while Rishi Nair (Grantchester, The Marlow Murder Club) appears as businessman Daniel. Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey, Lovejoy) plays Morag, with John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory’s Girl) as the family’s longtime lawyer Fergus and Gordon Kennedy (Robin Hood, The Diplomat) as stockman Angus.
Who’s Making the New Monarch of the Glen?
The series was created by Jeremy Brock, whose previous credits include A Very Royal Scandal, The Last King of Scotland and Mrs Brown. Brock is also writing and executive producing. Stephen Greenhorn (Sunshine on Leith, Dept. Q) writes episode four, while Meriel Sheibani-Clare (The Crown) writes episode five. Tom Vaughan (Doctor Foster, Victoria) serves as director and executive producer.
Alex Boyd, Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae are producers. Bernstein and Rae also worked on the original Monarch of the Glen. Ecosse Films, which produced the original series, is also producing the new adaptation.
The series is being produced by Ecosse Films and MASTERPIECE PBS in association with Northern Ireland Screen, with Banijay Rights handling international distribution. Filming is currently underway in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How Does It Connect to the Original Monarch of the Glen?
The new series is a reimagining rather than a continuation of the original characters and story. The original Monarch of the Glen aired on BBC One from 2000 to 2005. Its early series followed London restaurateur Archie MacDonald, played by Alastair Mackenzie, after he returned to his family’s Highland estate and found himself responsible for restoring its fortunes while his parents resisted his efforts at every turn. Richard Briers played his father, Hector MacDonald, while Susan Hampshire starred as his mum, Molly MacDonald. The series was loosely based on Compton Mackenzie's Highland novels, the first of which is Monarch of the Glen.
At time of writing, the original TV version is available to watch HERE.
The new version uses a similar starting point, with another London professional unexpectedly drawn back into the problems of a financially troubled family estate. This time, however, the central family is the Campbells, with Isla taking the lead.
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When Will the New Monarch of the Glen Premiere?
The new Monarch of the Glen is expected to premiere in 2027. For US viewers, the series will air on MASTERPIECE PBS. In the UK, it will air on 5.
Neither broadcaster has announced an exact premiere date yet, but with first-look images out, we don't expect the wait for a date will be *too* terribly long. If you'd like to get US-specific updates about this series and many others as they become available, you can join our free newsletter HERE.
