Shetland is a Scottish crime drama series made by ITV Studios for BBC Scotland and first broadcast on BBC One on 10 March 2013. The series was originally based upon the novels of Ann Cleeves, which were adapted for television by David Kane. The first seven series starred Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Pérez before being replaced by Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder from the eight series onwards. Also starring are Alison O'Donnell as DS Alison "Tosh" McIntosh and Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson. Lewis Howden and Anne Kidd are also principal members of the cast. Henshall won the 2016 BAFTA Scotland award for best actor and the series received the award for Best TV Drama.
The stories take place largely on the eponymous archipelago, although some of the filming takes place on the Scottish mainland. Most, but not all, exterior location filming takes place in Shetland; in 2021, filming of series 6 and 7 took place in Shetland in two segments, each of about six weeks’ duration. Interiors may be filmed in either Shetland or in west central Scotland.
On 2 December 2019, BBC One announced that two further series were intended for 2020 and 2021 with Henshall and O’Donnell returning in their roles. Production had to be postponed due to COVID-19. Series 6 broadcast began on 20 October 2021 and series 7 on 10 August 2022.
On 20 July 2022, it was announced that Shetland would return without Henshall in 2023 for an eighth series.
Production
The first series consists of two episodes, a single two-part story based on the novel Red Bones by Ann Cleeves. This series was broadcast across two nights on 10 and 11 March 2013 and was produced by Sue de Beauvoir. Subsequently, a second series was commissioned by the BBC. Series two was extended to contain six episodes. These were filmed in 2013 and screened in 2014. This series features three two-part stories based on Cleeves' novels Raven Black, Dead Water, and Blue Lightning. This series was produced by Peter Gallagher.
Filming began in April 2015 for a third series, which began screening in January 2016. This series saw a change in format; with all six episodes covering a single story, written exclusively for television. This was the first series not to adapt any of Cleeves' novels. Ciarán Hinds and Anna Chancellor were among the new cast members for this series. A fourth series was announced by the BBC in July 2016. Again, this series is a single story played out across six episodes and written exclusively for television. Stephen Walters and Neve McIntosh were among the new cast members announced for the series. It was broadcast on BBC One beginning on 13 February 2018. Series 5 was broadcast on BBC1 from 12 February 2019.
During filming, the cast and crew are usually based in Glasgow and other areas of mainland Scotland. Filming often takes place in areas with landscape or buildings reminiscent of those in the Shetland Islands, such as Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, Barrhead, where Henshall was born and grew up, Ayr and Irvine, North Ayrshire. "My character’s house is actually in Kilbarchan, the interior of a couple of crofts are here [in Irvine, Ayrshire] and the police station is in Barrhead", Henshall said in a 2019 interview.
Filming locations on or near Shetland have included Lerwick, the NorthLink ferry and the village of Wester Quarff, south of Lerwick. Some filming was on Fair Isle for series 2. The Hillswick wildlife sanctuary featured in series 4.
Shortly before series 7 premiered, Henshall announced that the series would be his last. It was then announced that he would be replaced in the leading role by Ashley Jensen from Series 8 onwards.
Cast
Main cast
Douglas Henshall as Jimmy Pérez, detective inspector (series 1–7) Alison O'Donnell as Alison "Tosh" McIntosh, detective sergeant (series 1–) Steven Robertson as Sandy Wilson, detective constable (series 1–) Mark Bonnar as Duncan Hunter, Cassie's biological father (series 1–) Julie Graham as Rhona Kelly, procurator fiscal (series 2–5, 7) Lewis Howden as Billy McCabe, police sergeant (series 1, 3–) Erin Armstrong as Cassie Pérez, Jimmy's stepdaughter (series 1–) Anne Kidd as Cora McLean, forensic pathologist (series 5–, recurring series 2–4) Anneika Rose as Maggie Kean, procurator fiscal (series 6–7) Lucianne McEvoy as Meg Pattison (series 6–7) Ashley Jensen as Ruth Calder, detective inspector (series 8–) Tibu Fortes as Harry Lamont, procurator fiscal (series 8–)