Shetland: How TV show deviated from Ann Cleeves books, and why Alison O'Donnell's character Tosh was created for the series
The TV series is based on the bestselling novels, but several huge changes have been made over the years
Shetland fans will know that the popular Scottish crime drama was originally based on the books of the same name by Ann Cleeves, but some huge changes were made to bring it to screen – not least creating the character of Tosh.
The detective drama first aired in 2013, and was based on the novel Red Bones. Series 2 followed in 2014, and was adapted from the books Raven Black, Dead Water, and Blue Lightning.
And book fans will know that DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh did not feature in any of the novels. Here’s everything you need to know about the character of Tosh, why she was created, and if Shetland on BBC One still follows the Ann Cleeves stories.
Is Shetland still based on the books of Ann Cleeves?
The TV crime drama Shetland is no longer directly based on the Ann Cleeves books. Although the show initially adapted the book storylines, that stopped after the second series.
Series 3 and beyond saw the characters and settings progressing beyond the page. They were written specifically for television.
Author Ann Cleeves has previously said she is comfortable with the creative freedom the show takes, knowing that television is a different art form from writing.
Talking to Pan MacMillan in 2019, she said: “I watch the TV show like any other viewer. Sometimes the BBC show me the scripts or the DVDs in advance. And I love going along to the read-throughs to meet the stars and the guest actors. But really I like coming fresh to the finished drama.”
She added: “The books and the shows are very different formats. I’ve been very fortunate though. The writers and directors and the actors have captured the essence of the books and the characters, even though they change the details of plot.
“The story that I loved most was one of the original stories, not an adaptation of the novels. It was series three, the first six-parter. It explores the sexual assault of one of the main characters, and was very sensitively written by Gaby Chiappe and beautifully acted by Dougie Henshall and Alison O’Donnell.”
The full series by Ann Cleeves Shetland titles are:
Raven Black (2006)
White Nights (2008)
Red Bones (2009)
Blue Lightning (2010)
Dead Water (2013)
Thin Air (2014)
Cold Earth (2016)
Wild Fire (2018)
Wild Fire was the final Shetland book.
Was Tosh in the Shetland books?
DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh did not feature in any of the novels. The first Shetland novel introduced Inspector Jimmy Perez, who was eventually played by Douglas Henshall in the TV series.
The plot centred on a “remote community with a killer in their midst”.
Inspector Jimmy Perez continued solving crime in the Shetland Islands throughout eight books. DC Sandy Wilson also featured in the Shetland books by Ann Cleeves. However, Sgt Billy McCabe and Detective Sergeant (later DI) Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh did not feature.
Why was Tosh created for the TV series Shetland?
BBC One offered Alison O’Donnell the part of DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh in 2012. It was her first major TV role after previously working predominantly in theatre.
Appearing on Alison O’Donnell Remembers… Shetland, she shared: “The early series were very much based on the series of books by Ann Cleeves. But readers will know that Tosh wasn’t in the books. They created the character for the TV series. One of the simple answers is that they wanted to bring in a female element because you had two male policeman, Perez and Sandy. But also, the idea from the creative team is that they wanted to bring someone in who could bring Perez out of himself a little bit.”
She continued: “Perez is very much in his head. He’s bereaved, and dealing with all the crime in Shetland. They bought in this young, outspoken, ambitious woman who would say things to bring him out of himself and make him laugh.
“The chemistry that Douglas and I began to find with each other was very much built around that. She was the clown to his straight man. He would roll his eyes, and give a wry smile.”
‘I turned up, I knew nothing’
Talking about her early days on set in Shetland series 1, Alison continued: “I turned up, I knew nothing, and I feel like I studied at the feet of a master. Douglas was really experienced and completely took me under his wing. I can still see the terror in my eyes in the first few scenes if I watch it back.”
She added: “I was very green, and had only ever really done theatre. I’m glad I didn’t know how glossy it was going to be because I think I would have been terrified.
“David Kane originated the character of Tosh, and she was so rich on the page. He’s really good at writing these sorts of Glasweigan young women, who have spunk. It felt like such a gift.”
David Kane is a principal writer who adapted the Shetland television series for the BBC.
