Acclaimed actors Ian Hart (Mr Bates VS The Post Office, Harry Potter, The Responder) and Vincent Regan (Traces, Luther: The Fallen Sun, Aquaman) lead the guest cast of BBC drama Shetland starring alongside series favourites Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, as filming begins on the new series. A Silverprint Pictures production (part of ITV Studios) Shetland will film in locations around Scotland and on the Shetland Isles over the coming months, with the series debuting on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.

Other guest cast starring in the forthcoming series include Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes, Baptiste), Robert Jack (Annika, Damaged), Nalini Chetty (Crime, Karen Pirie), Jimmy Yuill (Guilt, The Kindred), Lesley Hart (Granite Harbour, River City), alongside series regulars including Steven Robertson (playing DC Sandy Wilson), Lewis Howden (Sgt Billy McCabe), Anne Kidd (Cora McLean), Angus Miller (Donnie), Steven Miller (Rev Alan Calder), Tibu Fortes (PF Harry Lamont), Conor McCarry (PC Alex Grant) and Eubha Akilade (PC Lorna Burns).

Originally based on award-winning novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves, the new six-part series sees DI Calder (Jensen) – now a resident of the Isles – thrown in at the deep end after a friend of Tosh’s (O’Donnell) goes missing. The chilling tale of disappearances and death sparks a labyrinthine investigation for Tosh and Calder that challenges the line between the personal and professional.

Ian Hart says: I’m looking forward to embarking on a Shetland adventure – it’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit and to do so with this incredible drama is wonderful.”

Vincent Regan says: “I’m thrilled be joining the cast of Shetland which is such a beloved BBC drama. My character and his family are at the heart of this dark and twisting storyline and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds. The opportunity to visit the Shetland Isles was also a real pull to the part as well as working with the likes of Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell.”

Shetland is loved by millions of fans on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the last series (2023) averaging 7.0 million viewers across its run, in line with the previous run. In Scotland, Shetland was the second biggest drama of the year across all channels and streamers, behind Happy Valley. The ninth series was part of a double commission recently announced by the BBC. Series 10 of Shetland will film in 2025.

The new series of Shetland, will be written by lead writer Paul Logue and Denise Paul. Series 9 will be produced by Louise V Say (Dracula, Les Miserables) and directed by Andrew Cumming (Out of Darkness)and Ruth Paxton (A Banquet). Executive producers are Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, Kate Bartlett, Denise Paul and Paul Logue for Silverprint Pictures.

Shetland is part of a growing list of BBC dramas filmed in Scotland which will air this year, including Nightsleeper, Granite Harbour and Lockerbie. Shetland will be internationally distributed by ITV Studios.