Shetland Season 4 Filming Begins – Season 5 Next For BBC Drama?

Shetland – Filming underway on new series of award-winning BBC One drama

Filming has started on the fourth series of acclaimed BBC One drama, Shetland which sees the return of Douglas Henshall, Alison O’Donnell, Steven Robertson, Mark Bonnar and Julie Graham alongside new faces for a six-part series filming on location in Shetland, Glasgow and Norway, made by ITV Studios through BBC Scotland.

Starring Douglas Henshall in the lead role of DI Jimmy Perez and adapted from Ann Cleeves celebrated novels, new cast who have joined Shetland for this series include Neve McIntosh (The Replacement, Doctor Who), Sean McGinley (The Fall, Gangs of New York), Stephen Walters (The Accused), Gerard Miller (Bladerunner, River City), Allison McKenzie (Line of Duty, River City) and Michael Moreland (Filth, Scot Squad).

This new series is an original story which sees Perez deal with murders from the past and present with unsettling similarities. When Shetlander, Thomas Malone (played by Stephen Walters) has his murder conviction overturned after 23 years behind bars, DI Perez has to reopen the investigation into the 1994 death of local teenager, Lizzie Kilmuir.

As suspicion surrounds Malone, a local journalist is found murdered in similar circumstances and he finds himself firmly in the frame again. Has Malone fooled the system in to releasing him only to murder again? Or was he a victim of a miscarriage of justice? As pressure mounts on Perez, he must look beyond the gossip and prejudice to get to the truth.

Shetland’s long-term collaborator David Kane (Stonemouth) returns as the writer on four of the six episodes alongside Louise Ironside (Call The Midwife, Law & Order) as the writer of episode two and Paul Logue (DCI Banks, Death In Paradise) for episode three. Shetland is directed by Lee Haven Jones (Vera) and Rebecca Gatward (Grantchester, EastEnders). This new series sees the return of Eric Coulter (Our Girl, Case Histories) as Producer and is executive produced by Kate Bartlett for ITV Studios and Gaynor Holmes for BBC Scotland.

Kate Bartlett, Executive Producer, ITV Studios, says: “We are delighted to be working with BBC Scotland on this new series of Shetland. David Kane has created a compelling and distinctive crime story told across six hours. We are also thrilled to have the brilliant core cast return, led by Douglas Henshall.”

Gaynor Holmes, BBC Scotland’s Executive Producer, says: “We’re delighted to be making another series of Shetland for BBC One. Shetland has a loyal following and we’re sure they will be thrilled with the surprises we’ve got for them this time around.”

This new series of Shetland is part of BBC Scotland’s commitment to produce distinctive and reflective Scottish output and complements productions including Trust Me (BBC One), Still Game (BBC One), River City (BBC One Scotland) and Two Doors Down (BBC Two). (BBC)

Will Shetland survive for Season 5? Stay tuned for the latest updates…