UNCOVERING the bast

STUART MARTIN and KATE PHILLIPS on how the new series of their glossy drama investigates the backstory of their spirited detectives

- IAN MACEWAN

Fans of Alibi’s stylish period whodunnit Miss Scarlet and the Duke will know that Victorian copper William ‘Duke’ Wellington (Stuart Martin) and private detective Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) have known each other since childhood days.

It’s so far been revealed that Eliza’s father took a young William in, and mentored him when he joined the police force.

But, as the sparring sleuths – who are not-so-secretly crazy about each other – return in a fourth, six-part series of intriguing investigations, that backstory will be explored in more detail as we rewind the clock to when they first met 12 years earlier in an episode called, appropriately, Origins.

Meanwhile, there’s a fresh caseload of curious crimes to consider, starting with a shooting and robbery in a highend brothel that is frequented by VIPs.

We brought stars Kate, 34, and Stuart, 38, in for questioning to find out more…

So, where do we pick up the action in this new run?

KATE We left off in Series 3 with Eliza really struggling to make ends meet, and then this opportunity arose to join the detective agency belonging to [her rival] Patrick Nash [played by Felix Scott], but she was undecided. Season 4 begins with her decision made!