‘Shetland’: Douglas Henshall To Leave After 7 Seasons, Drama Will Return For Season 8
Douglas Henshall is leaving ‘Shetland‘ after 7 seasons on the BBC Drama the actor has announced.
Henshall has starred in the role of DI Jimmy Perez since 2013 in the acclaimed murder mystery drama based on the award-winning novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves. The actor has decided that seven seasons is enough time in the role, but promises his last season will wrap up Perez’s story.
“After series 5 of Shetland, David Kane and I decided we wanted to do two more series to complete the story of Jimmy Perez. So series 6 and 7 were commissioned together to give us time to wrap up Perez’s story to a satisfactory end,” said Henshall. “It’s been one of the privileges of my career to play Jimmy Perez for almost ten years and to work with so many wonderful people both in front of and behind the camera, and also to spend so much time in Shetland. The Isles were so much a part of our show and of Perez himself. I’ll miss him and the place. I wish everyone involved much luck with whatever happens next.”
This last outing for DI Perez features a thrilling new six-part seventh season which sees the team investigate the mysterious disappearance of a vulnerable young man. The investigation draws Perez into the secret past of a family new to Shetland, revealing an unimaginable threat to the community.
Written by David Kane, Paul Logue and Denise Paul, the seventh series features guest stars Shauna Macdonald (The Cry, The Descent), Laurie Brett (Waterloo Road, EastEnders), Patrick Robinson (Death in Paradise, Casualty), Andrew Whipp (Vera, The Mallorca Files), Stuart McQuarrie (Elizabeth Is Missing, The Crown), Ladi Emeruwa (Riveria, Humans), Lauren Conroy (Rent, 9 to 5), Nick Nunn (The Victim, Clique) and Sorcha Groundsell (Grantchester, The Innocents, Clique).
Series regulars are Alison O’Donnell (Tosh), Steven Robertson (Sandy), Mark Bonnar (Duncan), Anne Kidd (Cora), Lewis Howden (Sgt Billy McCabe), Erin Armstrong (Cassie), Angus Miller (Donnie) and Anneika Rose (Maggie Kean). Series 7 of Shetland also sees the return of Julie Graham as Procutar Fiscal Rhona Kelly.
“It has been an absolute privilege to work on Shetland over the past few years and watch the show go from strength to strength – in no small part thanks to Douglas’s sensitive, intelligent and memorable portrayal of DI Jimmy Perez,” adds Gaynor Holmes, Executive Producer for BBC Drama. “We will miss him enormously but he leaves the show in rude health and we’re extremely excited about the plans we have for bringing more of this much-loved drama to audiences far and wide.”
‘Shetland’ Season 7 was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Former Director of BBC Drama and produced by Louise V Say (Dracula, Les Miserables). The Executive Producers are Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, Kate Bartlett and Denise Paul for Silverprint Pictures and David Kane. Season 8 will start filming from Spring 2023 in locations on the Shetland Isles and across Scotland. Casting for this new series will be announced in the coming months.
‘Shetland‘ Season 7 doesn’t yet have an exact premiere date, but is set to air in August 2022 on BBC One & iPlayer. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
