'Shetland' Season 10 Adds 'Doctor Who' Companion to Cast

Now that the casting upheaval on Shetland has settled out, it's time to return to the Scottish highlands as the popular mystery series begins filming Season 10. But though the series has found a new groove with Ashley Jensen taking over the series lead role as DI Ruth Calder, paired up with Alison O’Donnell as DI Alison MacIntosh, there's still the normal casting turnover to deal with, as members of the supporting cast move on, and new actors in need of a steady gig hop on board.

It wasn't long ago that fans weren't even sure it would make ten seasons. When the original lead actor, Douglas Henshall, who played DI Jimmy Perez, announced he was leaving the series at the end of Season 7, many thought the show would end with him. After all, the Ann Cleaves novels the TV series are based on all focused on Perez. The series might not be named for him (unlike Cleaves' other hit, Vera), but viewers couldn't image it working without him. That is, until the BBC tapped former Agatha Raisin actor Jensen to step in, upending the show's dynamic and giving it a fresh start.

But the lead role isn't the only one that's turned over in the past few years. Since the show first introduced the local procurator fiscal (the Scottish title for a public prosecutor) in Season 2, Rhona Kelly (Julie Graham), that role has turned over steadily like clockwork every four years or so. Graham's character exited in Season 7 and was initially replaced by Harry Lamont (Tibu Fortes). Now, Fortes has exited the series and will be replaced by former Doctor Who companion Samuel Anderson.

Here's the Season 10 synopsis:

Based initially on award-winning novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves, the new series sees Calder and Tosh travel to the isolated hamlet of Lunniswick to investigate the sinister killing of an elderly woman. The team discovers that the body of the retired social worker has been out in the elements for several days. The case will see Tosh and Calder excavate the victim’s life, past and present, as well as the lives of those who knew her. They soon begin to uncover dark secrets and terrible deeds at the heart of this close-knit community.

Jensen and O’Donnell return for their third season together, alongside series stalwarts Steven Robertson (The Bay) as DC Sandy Wilson and Lewis Howden (Annika) as Sgt Billy McCabe, who, along with O'Donnell, have been with the series since Season 1. Anderson joins an ensemble cast that also currently includes Anne Kidd (Victoria) as Dr. Cora McLean, Eubha Akilade (The Diplomat) as PC Lorna Burns, Conor McCarry (Time) as PC Alex Grant, and Angus Miller (The Gold) as Donnie, Tosh’s partner.

Guest stars for Season 10 will include Louise Brealey (Sherlock), Frances Gray (Tom Jones), Gabriel Akuwudike (Ridley Road), Ellie Haddington (Guilt), Clive Russell (Game of Thrones), Niall MacGregor (The Bombing of Pan AM 103), Greg McHugh (A Discovery of Witches), Stuart Townsend (Elementary), Stephen McMillan (Toxic Town), Saskia Ashdown (Karen Pirie), Lila Rose (Traces), Joanne Thomson (Outlander), and Leigh Biagi (The Lost King).

Paul Logue and Denise Paul, who wrote Season 9, once again penned all episodes, and directors Andrew Cumming and Ruth Paxton split helming duties with Louise V Say producing. Logue and Paul are executive producers, along with Gaynor Holmes and Kate Bartlett.

Shetland is filming now in Scotland and is expected to premiere at the end of 2025 on both the BBC and BritBox.