Fan-favorite period-crime drama Miss Scarlet and The Duke takes a new direction after leading actor Stuart Martin exits. The series wrapped its fourth season in February 2024 and quickly secured a fifth renewal. However, news of Martin’s departure shocked fans, sparking questions about why he left the role of the Duke.

Here’s what we know about why the Army of Thieves star left Miss Scarlet and The Duke.

Why Stuart Martin isn’t in Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 5

Martin reportedly exited the British-American drama to allow the series to explore new creative directions.

Explaining his decision, Martin shared:

“It has been such an incredible joy to bring Duke to life through Rachael’s beautiful, brilliant writing and to play him for the past four years. But it felt like the time was right for Scarlet to explore new stories and challenges, as the show continues to grow and evolve,” he said, according to The Direct.

In an interview with PBS’s Masterpiece Studio podcast, Martin elaborated on the difficulty of his decision:

“It was very, very tough. My feeling was that there’s something really interesting in him leaving. You get to put it all on the line, really, and we get to see [Eliza and Duke] reach a moment they probably wouldn’t get to if the story were to continue as it was.” Notably, Martin hinted at the possibility of a future return, describing his exit as “for now.”

According to a PBS article, Martin’s character William Wellington, also known as the Duke, leaves Scotland Yard to pursue a new life in New York City.

Due to this major plot development, PBS confirmed the series will be rebranded as Miss Scarlet. The network also announced that actor Tom Durant Pritchard will join the cast as Alexander Blake, a new character who partners with Eliza Scarlet (played by Kate Phillips) to solve crimes in London.

The fifth season of Miss Scarlet premieres on January 12, 2025.