One of the biggest drama series of the early 2000s is being rebooted in a "fresh reimagining", it has been confirmed. Monarch of the Glen, which ran for 64 episodes across seven series on BBC One between 2000 and 2005, is returning on a new network.
Channel 5 will play host to its new six-part outing, which will focus on a brand new lead character and will go into production later this year.
The show, originally fronted by Alastair Mackenzie, is set on a picturesque Highlands estate and follows the lives and loves of the people in and around it.
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A synopsis for the "new era" reads: "When high-flying London lawyer Isla Campbell finds herself back at her family's crumbling Highland estate for her estranged father's funeral, she expects 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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Promising an "rich ensemble of unforgettable new characters", the series is created, written and executive produced by Jeremy Brock, who said in a statement: "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."
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The original Monarch of the Glen starred Mackenzie alongside names such as Dawn Steele, Susan Hampshire, Lloyd Owen and the late Richard Briers. Doctor Who's Tom Baker and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes starred in supporting roles.
Casting details for this new reimagining are yet to be revealed, as are release dates.
Monarch of the Glen will air on Channel 5 in the future. The original series is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
