Shetland

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, produced by Peter Gallagher, features three two-part stories based on the novels Raven Black, Dead Water, and Blue Lightning.

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 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, and 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 the eighth series. Filming for series 9 started in Shetland in April 2024, and was broadcast from 6 November to 11 December 2024.

Cast

Main cast

Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez (series 1–7)

Alison O'Donnell as DS (later DI) Alison "Tosh" McIntosh (series 1–present)

Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson (series 1–present)

Lewis Howden as Billy McCabe, police sergeant (series 1, 3–present)

Erin Armstrong as Cassie Perez (series 1–7)

Mark Bonnar as Duncan Hunter (series 1–7)

Anne Kidd as Cora McLean, forensic pathologist (series 5–present; recurring series 2–4)

Julie Graham as Rhona Kelly, procurator fiscal (series 2–5, 7)

Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder (series 8–present)

Angus Miller as Donnie Russell (series 9; recurring series 5–8; guest series 10)

Steven Miller as Reverend Alan Calder (series 9–present; recurring series 8)

Recurring cast

Stewart Porter as Billy McBride, police sergeant (series 2)

Fiona Bell as Donna Killick (series 4, 6)

Neve McIntosh as Kate Kilmuir (series 4, 6)

Julia Brown as Molly Kilmuir (series 4, 6)

Jimmy Chisholm as Alec MacBay (series 4, 6)

Conor McCarry as PC Alex Grant (series 5– present)

Anneika Rose as Maggie Kean, procurator fiscal (series 6–7)

Lucianne McEvoy as Meg Pattison (series 6–7)

Eubha Akilade as PC Lorna Burns (series 7– present)

Tibu Fortes as Harry Lamont, procurator fiscal (series 8–9)

Kevan MacKenzie as James Innes (series 8, 10)

Samuel Anderson as Matt Blake, procurator fiscal (series 10–present)

Guest cast

Red Bones

Sandra Voe as Mima Wilson

Claire Rafferty as Anna Haldane

Jim Sturgeon as Ronald Haldane

Gemma Chan as Hattie James

Lindy Whiteford as Jackie Haldane

James Greene as Andrew Haldane

Alexander Morton as Joseph Wilson

Raven Black

Rebecca Benson as Sally Henry

Brian Cox as Magnus Bain

Dead Water

Nina Sosanya as Willow Reeves

Alex Norton as Cameron Watt

David Hayman as Joe Dalhousie

Blue Lightning

John Lynch as Frank Blake

Bill Paterson as James Perez

Ciarán Hinds as Michael Maguire

Saskia Reeves as Freya Galdie

Archie Panjabi as DS Asha Israni

Anna Chancellor as Phyllis Brenan

James Cosmo as Arthur MacCall

Stephen Walters as Thomas Malone

Episodes

Series 1 (2013)

The series introduces Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez and Alison O'Donnell as DS Alison 'Tosh' McIntosh.

It is based on the third novel Red Bones by Ann Cleeves.

Series 2 (2014)

The series is based on Raven Black, Dead Water and Blue Lightning, the first, fourth and fifth novel by Ann Cleeves.

Series 3 (2016)

This series is the first written as a six-part story and not based on an Ann Cleeves novel.

Series 7 (2022)

This is the seventh and final series to star Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez.

Series 8 (2023)

This series introduces Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder.

Home media

Released on DVD in Australia, Shetland, Series 1 consists of the pilot "Red Bones" and the Series 2 episodes "Raven Black", "Dead Water" and "Blue Lightning". Series 2 contains the Series 3 episodes, Series 3 contains the Series 4 episodes, and Series 4 contains the Season 5 episodes.

On Australian Region 4 DVD, The Pilot episode is stated as being Pilot and not Series 1, with the Series 2 episodes being stated as Series 1. Quote from the DVD "This DVD set includes the Pilot Red Bones and all episodes from series one Raven Black, Dead Water and Blue Lightning". However, the UK releases are Series 1 through 7 rather than Series 1 through 6 in Australia.