Douglas Henshall - shooting murder in Shetland

Turning one of Ann Cleeves’ Shetland crime novels into a powerful two-part murder mystery for BBC One is now under way.

Acclaimed Scots actor Douglas Henshall, as well as Shetland’s own Steven Robertson and Sandra Voe are now in the isles for the 10-day shooting.

The TV drama Shetland, based on Ann Cleeves’ Red Bones, the third book of her Shetland Quartet, is being produced by ITV Studios for the BBC and due to be screened in November this year.

The production for prime time television is the most important Shetland has ever seen.

Filming has been taking place in Lerwick, Bressay and on board the ferry Leirna on Tuesday, and is due to move to Whiteness on Wednesday.

When the young archaeologist Hattie James (Gemma Chan) discovers a set of human remains, the island community is intrigued to know if it’s an ancient find or a contemporary mystery.

When an elderly woman is shot on her land in a tragic accident, detective Jimmy Perez (played by Douglas Henshall) finds himself at the centre of two feuding families whose envy, greed and bitterness has divided the surrounding community.

Perez is described as possessing a bone dry sense of humour and an idealistic desire to protect his beloved Shetland from inevitable change.

Read more at Shetland News