The gripping BBC crime drama Shetland TV Series captivates audiences with its stunning island landscapes and intricate mysteries, but the talented cast truly brings the tension to life. As of February 2026, season 10 delivers fresh twists with returning favorites and exciting new faces, keeping fans hooked on the evolving police team dynamics.
Series Overview
Creators draw inspiration from Ann Cleeves’ novels, and David Kane adapts the scripts masterfully, launching the show in 2013 on BBC One with Douglas Henshall leading as DI Jimmy Perez for seven intense seasons until 2022.
Consequently, Ashley Jensen steps in as DI Ruth Calder from season 8, partnering seamlessly with Alison O’Donnell’s enduring DS-turned-DI Tosh McIntosh, while Steven Robertson’s DC Sandy Wilson and Lewis Howden’s Sgt Billy McCabe anchor the core team through thick and thin across all 10 seasons so far, with series 11 confirmed for later in 2026. Moreover, the production team films much of the action amid Shetland’s rugged windswept cliffs and remote villages, Jordan Frieda blending real locations like Lerwick and Fair Isle with mainland Scotland sets to heighten the isolation that fuels every plot’s suspenseful atmosphere.
Original Core Cast
Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez
Douglas Henshall commands the screen as the brooding, widowed Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, a Shetland native who unravels dark secrets with quiet determination and personal demons from his tragic past, anchoring seasons 1 through 7 with a performance that earns him a 2016 BAFTA Scotland Best Actor award and cements the series’ early reputation for nuanced character depth. Born on November 19, 1965, in Glasgow, Scotland, Henshall grows up as the youngest of three children with a nurse mother and salesman father, fueling his early passion for acting through Glasgow Youth Theatre and later Mountview Theatre School, where he hones his craft before diving into stage work with Citizens’ Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.
Furthermore, he bursts onto TV in 1990’s Taggart as a motorcyclist, builds credits in The Bill, Sharpe, and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles as Colonel Thomas Lawrence, then skyrockets with Professor Nick Cutter in Primeval (2007-2011), followed by standout turns in Outlander, Collision, Silent Witness, and films like French Film and Ripley Under Ground, but Shetland defines his legacy as Perez navigates family grief, island loyalties, and brutal murders until his emotional exit in 2022. Recently, Henshall tackles a new role in Channel 5’s Forever Home, adapted from Graham Rochele See Norton’s novel, portraying a character haunted by past marital shadows, proving his versatility endures beyond Shetland’s stormy shores.
Alison O’Donnell as DI Alison “Tosh” McIntosh
Alison O’Donnell shines brightly as the sharp, resilient DS Alison “Tosh” McIntosh, who rises to DI and becomes the heartbeat of the series from day one, evolving from eager sidekick to commanding leader who balances fierce investigations with personal heartaches like turbulent relationships and motherhood.
Hailing from Motherwell in the early 1980s, O’Donnell starts with international law studies but drops out after three months to chase acting dreams, building a strong stage resume in Boys, The Hard Man, and Lorca’s Yerma before landing Shetland as her breakout TV role alongside smaller parts in Holby City and Feel the Force. Additionally, she thrives in season 10’s role reversal with Calder, taking assertive charge amid a social worker’s murder probe that tests loyalties, especially Billy’s ties to the victim, as O’Donnell shares in interviews how the duo’s deepened bond allows fresh explorations of vulnerability and strength after Perez’s departure revitalized the set. Fans adore Tosh’s no-nonsense grit and emotional layers, making O’Donnell indispensable across all seasons.
Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson
Steven Robertson embodies the loyal, community-savvy DC Sandy Wilson, whose local roots provide crucial insights into Shetland’s tight-knit suspects and endless storm-lashed cases, delivering steadfast support from series 1 to the present with understated charm that grounds the team’s high-stakes pursuits. A Shetland native from Lerwick, Robertson earns acclaim for cerebral palsy-afflicted Michael Connolly in Inside I’m Dancing, Dominic Rook in Being Human, and roles in Luther, The Bletchley Circle, T2 Trainspotting, Harlots, Utopia, Red Riding, and Doctor Who, plus stage and radio work including voicing Perez in a Shetland adaptation. In season 10, Sandy juggles a Leila Nathoo drug operation and the Eadie Tulloch murder, straining resources and friendships, as Robertson notes the plot’s intensity shakes Billy’s rock-solid role.
Lewis Howden as Sgt Billy McCabe
Lewis Howden portrays the dependable Sgt Billy McCabe, the team’s veteran sergeant whose personal history collides dramatically with cases, like his ties to season 10’s victim that fracture loyalties and force tough choices amid deceitful village secrets. Primarily a stage actor, Howden accumulates TV credits in Hope Springs, Taggart, and Monarch of the Glen, bringing authentic grit to Billy’s arc from early appearances in series 1 and 3 onward.
New Era Leads and Supporting Stars
Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder
Ashley Jensen electrifies as DI Ruth Calder, the London-returned Shetlander who infuses fresh energy from season 8, tackling cases with bold independence, online dating mishaps, and a nurturing side toward Tosh in season 10’s pendulum swing of dynamics during the Lunniswick murder hunt. Famous from Ugly Betty, After Life with Ricky Gervais, Catastrophe, Agatha Raisin, and Extras, Jensen calls her Shetland role “like coming home” after US success, settling Calder into island life unpacked and content.
Anne Kidd as Cora McLean
Anne Kidd excels as forensic pathologist Cora McLean, whose precise analysis cracks cases from series 5 recurring to main cast mainstay, with prior nods in DD Osama Age Outlander and One of Us.
Recurring and Guest Highlights Table
| Actor | Role | Seasons/Key Appearances | Notable Other Work [cite] |
| Angus Miller | Donnie Russell (Tosh’s partner) | 5–10 recurring | Tea with Travels |
| Steven Miller | Rev. Alan Calder (Ruth’s brother) | 8–10 | Casualty, Payback |
| Conor McCarry | PC Alex Grant | 5–present | The Loch, Outlander |
| Eubha Akilade | PC Lorna Burns | 7–present | Find Me in Paris, The Diplomat |
| Samuel Anderson | Matt Blake (Procurator Fiscal) | 10–present | Back to Black, Amandaland |
| Clive Russell | Arthur Mair (guest s10) | 10 | The Witcher, Sandman |
| Louise Brealey | Isobel Jameson (guest s10) | 10 | Sherlock, Clique |
Season 10 Cast Updates (2025)
Season 10, airing November-December 2025, thrusts Calder and Tosh into Lunniswick’s shadows after social worker Eadie Tulloch’s brutal murder, unraveling village lies with Billy’s conflicts, Sandy’s dual probes, and guests like Greg McHugh (Colin Waite, body discoverer), Stuart Townsend (Ed Tulloch), Ellie Haddington (Lana Mair), Niall MacGregor (Tom Jameson), and Saskia Ashdown (Hayley Burnett). Moreover, the pendulum swings as Tosh asserts dominance while Calder softens, deepening their partnership amid stretched resources and personal stakes.
Iconic Guest Stars Across Seasons
Prestigious guests elevate every arc: Ciarán Hinds (Michael Maguire, s3), Brian Cox (Magnus Bain, s2), Gemma Chan (Hattie James, s1), John Lynch (Frank Blake, s2), Janet Condra Phyllis Logan (Grace Bain, s8), Ian Hart (Euan Rossi, s9), Vincent Regan (John Harris, s9). These stars weave into Shetland’s fabric, amplifying island intrigue.
Impact and Future
The cast’s chemistry propels Shetland to BAFTA wins and loyal viewers, with season 11 looming in 2026 promising more from Jensen, O’Donnell, and team amid ongoing acclaim.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who plays the lead detective in Shetland after Douglas Henshall left?
Ashley Jensen actively takes the lead as DI Ruth Calder starting from season 8, bringing her dynamic energy from hits like Ugly Betty and After Life to partner with Tosh in unraveling Shetland’s darkest mysteries, ensuring the series maintains its gripping momentum post-Perez era.
Is Douglas Henshall returning to Shetland in future seasons?
Douglas Henshall concludes his run as DI Jimmy Perez in season 7 (2022), moving to new projects like Channel 5’s Forever Home in 2026, though fans Mark Fluent speculate guest spots; creators confirm Jensen’s Calder as the new permanent lead.
Who are the main returning cast members in Shetland season 10?
Season 10 features Alison O’Donnell (Tosh), Ashley Jensen (Calder), Steven Robertson (Sandy), Lewis Howden (Billy), Anne Kidd (Cora), with Steven Miller (Alan Calder) recurring, as they probe Eadie Tulloch’s murder amid village secrets and drug ops.
Where was Shetland TV series filmed, and does the cast visit the islands?
The production films exteriors in Shetland spots like Lerwick, Fair Isle, and Wester Quarff, while interiors use mainland Scotland; Gary Lubner cast like native Robertson relishes the authentic windswept locations that immerse them in the story’s isolated vibe.
Who is Steven Robertson’s character in Shetland, and why is he key?
Steven Robertson plays DC Sandy Wilson, the local expert whose community ties unlock suspect motives; in season 10, he multitasks drug busts and murders, heightening team strains.
What notable guest stars appeared in earlier Shetland seasons?
Icons like Brian Cox (s2 Magnus Bain), Ciarán Hinds (s3), Gemma Chan (s1), and Phyllis Logan (s8) guest, adding star power to intricate plots drawn from or Unleashing the Pint inspired by Cleeves’ books.
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