Thursday, November 24, 2022

BBC announces new lead for Shetland Series

The BBC's award-winning murder mystery drama Shetland announced a new lead actor when it returns next year. 

From BBC.com

Ashley Jensen will star as DI Ruth Calder, a native Shetlander who returns to the isles after 20 years working for the Met in LondonThe Scottish actor takes on the lead detective role left vacant by DI Jimmy Perez, played for seven series by Douglas Henshall.

Jensen said she was "absolutely thrilled" to be joining the show.

The 53-year-old, who was born in Annan in Dumfriesshire, got her big break when she starred alongside Ricky Gervais in Extras in 2005. She went on to appear regularly in US TV series Ugly Betty before returning to the UK with roles in shows such as Agatha Raisin and Catastrophe. In 2019 she reunited with Gervais in the Netflix comedy series After Life.

The new series of Shetland will film in locations on Shetland and across Scotland this spring.

Jensen will join series regulars such as Alison O'Donnell (DS Alison 'Tosh' McIntosh), Steven Robertson (Sandy), Lewis Howden (Billy) and Anne Kidd (Cora). Jensen said: "There will be a different dynamic with Ruth amongst the regular characters and a few more new interesting characters to enjoy.  "However the integrity of the show and the world that has been created will remain very much in the same tone as the last seven seasons. 

"It's a real privilege to be asked to lead this show into a new chapter."

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I really hope this works out since Shetland is one of my favorites. However, Shetland without Jimmy Perez?? Well, we will see. I will give it a try for a couple of episodes. I just don't want to watch it and think "Agatha Raisin" when I see her.