Shetland star reveals future of BBC show after Jimmy Perez exit that devastated fans

A SHETLAND star has revealed the future of the show following Jimmy Perez’s exit last series.

The BBC One drama aired its seventh series last year as Jimmy Perez solved his final ever case.

The popular character was written out of the show following actor Douglas Henshall‘s decision to quit.

His replacement was previously revealed as Ugly Betty actress Ashley Jensen.

She will take up the lead role when the show returns for its eight run as she plays DI Ruth Calder.

Jensen’s character will work closely with DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell) and will make her debut when the series returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this year.

And now, Douglas has weighed in on the show’s future following his replacement.

Speaking to RadioTimes, the 57-year-old said: “She’s a great actor and she’s obviously very different from me.”

He continued: “So, I mean, I think it will be interesting to have two women leading up this detective show on the isles and see what that brings.

“I think it’s going to be very different, but I think that’s what’s most exciting about it – so yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

Meanwhile, Alison O’Donnell has teased how the show is going in a ‘different direction’.

She revealed: “Obviously, it does feel very different because it’s not Perez, and Perez was the absolute centre and heart of the show.

“So what they’ve done, which I think is the only thing they could have done, is taken off in another direction, but it feels different and fresh. And hopefully people will stay connected with it.”

Series seven of Shetland is available to stream now on iPlayer.