Filming is officially underway on the upcoming 11th season of Shetland, which will see Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell reprise their roles as DI Ruth Calder and DI Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh, alongside a number of returning stars and fresh faces.
Based on the award-winning novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves, the popular BBC drama follows DI Calder and DI McIntosh as they investigate grizzly crimes on the titular Scottish archipelago.
Shetland has become a staple in the BBC’s drama line-up since it first premiered in 2013. While fans were saddened by the departure of Douglas Henshall’s DI Jimmy Perez at the end of season seven, Ashley Jensen’s Ruth Calder has added a fresh dynamic to the series, which was among the top five most-watched BBC Drama series of 2025
Keep reading to find out all we know about season 11, which promises to be a “gripping” story filled with “twists, turns, and the kind of emotional punch that keeps viewers hooked”.
© BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie SimpsonWho has joined the cast of Shetland?
A number of familiar faces have joined the cast of season 11, including Christine Bottomley (Sherwood), Kevin Harvey (This City Is Ours), Stella Gonet (The Crown), Gregor Fisher (Only Child) and Gavin Mitchell (Crime).
Also joining the season 11 guest cast are John Wark (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth), Jude Bain (Let It Come Down), Robin Weaver (Rivals), John McLarnon (I Swear), Beth Marshall (The Bombing of Pan Am 103), Daniel Boyd (House of the Dragon), Charlene Boyd (Department Q) and Helen Mackay (Shetland).
Which cast members will return in season 11?
Reprising their roles alongside Ashley and Alison are Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson, Lewis Howden as Billy McCabe, Samuel Anderson as Procurator Fiscal Matt Blake, Steven Miller as Rev Alan Calder, Anne Kidd as pathologist Cora McLean, Angus Miller as Donnie Conor McCarry as PC Alex Grant and Eubha Akilade as PC Lorna Burns.
© BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie SimpsonWhat to expect from season 11
The new season centres around an historic murder which will “forever change the lives of all those connected in the present day,” according to the synopsis.
It continues: “When a car is pulled from the water, a grim discovery is made – crammed in the boot are the decomposed, skeletal remains of an unknown male. The team’s search to uncover the victim’s identity, begins with a hunt for the vehicle’s owner– a respected, local GP who left the Isles under a cloud of troubled rumours nine years ago.
“As Calder and Tosh dig deeper into the enigmatic GP’s state-of-mind and the lives of the loved ones he left behind, the investigation takes them to dark and dangerous places in their quest for the truth.”
Gaynor Holmes, Commissioning Editor for the BBC, said season 11 is “brimming with twists, turns, and the kind of emotional punch that keeps viewers hooked,” adding that lead writer Paul Logue has delivered a “gripping, atmospheric story, with the wild beauty of the Shetland Isles at its heart”.
Gaynor continued: “Alison and Ashley lead our stellar core cast who are joined by a brilliant line up of guest stars and supported by a crew whose craft and passion shine through in every frame—together showcasing Scotland on screen at its very best.”
When will Shetland season 11 air?
The BBC has yet to announce a release date for season 11, which will arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year. Filming will take place in locations around Scotland and on the Shetland Isles over the coming months.
© ITV Studios / Robert Pereira Hind / BBCIf previous seasons are any indication, we’d expect the new episodes to arrive towards the end of the year.
Shetland seasons one to ten are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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