From Primeval to Shetland via The Silence

Former Primeval star Douglas Henshall is to appear as the lead character in a new BBC One crime drama.

He will play Detective Jimmy Perez in the two-part murder-mystery Shetland, which has been adapted by David Kane from the books by Ann Cleeves.

Set against the backdrop of the Shetland Isles, the drama, which will be directed by Peter Hoar, centres on the native Shetlander Perez, a widower who has returned home after a long spell away and has "a bone-dry sense of humour and an idealistic desire to protect his beloved Shetland Isles from inevitable change".


Henshall, who also starred in the 2010 BBC One drama The Silence alongside Dervla Kirwan and Hugh Bonneville, said: "I am very much looking forward to working with David Kane, filming in Scotland, and being back on BBC One."

Further casting is yet to be announced. Shetland is being produced by Sue De Beauvoir for ITV Studios through BBC Scotland. The executive producers are Elaine Collins for ITV Studios and Christopher Aird for BBC Scotland.

BBC Scotland's drama department is home to Waterloo Road (BBC One), Lip Service (BBC Three), Field Of Blood (BBC One Scotland), and River City (BBC One Scotland).