Shetland series 11: Everything we know about the return of the BBC One crime drama
DI Ruth Calder and DI Tosh will be back!
Shetland series 10 has officially come to an end, after a particularly dark run of episodes – but will the BBC bring it back for a series 11?
The Scottish crime drama has been on our screens since 2013, and has withstood plenty of changes. Not least the departure of leading man Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez in 2022. Frankly, we never thought we’d survive the loss, but somehow we did. Such is life!
Ashley Jensen’s Ruth Calder arrived in Shetland in 2023 and, with her, a totally different vibe. But with tonnes of BBC One dramas returning in 2026, can we be sure Shetland will be one of them? Here’s everything we know so far about a possible series 11 of Shetland.
***Warning: mild spoilers from Shetland series 10 ahead***
Is there a series 11 of Shetland?
BBC One has now confirmed the future of Shetland – there WILL be a series 11 of the crime drama. It was a no-brainer, surely?! After all, if it ain’t broke…
The series continues to be a highlight of the TV year, and always manages to attract some of the UK’s finest guest stars. Just this year, the cast featured Stuart Townsend, Clive Russell, and Ellie Haddington.
There’s a reason the series has been running for 12 years. It combines stunning Scottish scenery with a likeable main cast – Sandy! Billy! Tosh! – and a central mystery with enough plot twists you haven’t got a hope in hell of guessing. So you can just sit back, relax, and not try too hard to work it out.
And even before the Beeb announced series 11 of Shetland, there were clues the cast and crew would be back in 2026…
Cast and crew ‘back filming Shetland series 11’
According to production schedules, filming for Shetland series 11 is expected to start in Match 2026.
TV Zone claimed they have seen production listings for the future series of Shetland, even before a formal announcement had come from the BBC One.
Shetland series 11 start date
Fans can expect to see Shetland series 11 in November 2026. This follows the pattern of the past few series, which have all started in November, and concluded in December.
We’d expect it to be six episodes, in keeping with series 1 to 10.
What cast will return?
Well, Shetland wouldn’t be the same without the two leads DI Calder and DI Tosh, played by Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell. If there’s a Shetland series 11, then these two will surely be back.
Meanwhile, we’d expect Steven Robertson to return as DC Sandy Wilson. As for Lewis Howden’s Sgt Billy McCabe, his future was left hanging in the balance in series 10. Although we’d love to see him back in the show, he might not be working for the police anymore…
We’d also expect to see the return of Samuel Anderson as Procurator Fiscal Matt Blake in the Shetland cast, too. Watch this space for more news about casting if and when we get it.
Viewers react to Shetland
Some BBC One fans been divided by the most recent series 10 of Shetland. While some loved it, and would no doubt love to see Shetland return for a series 11, others weren’t so keen this year.
One fan said: “In love with #Shetland show! So many plot twists.”
Another added: “Loving the new series of #Shetland on @BBCScotland. Great central performances by Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell. And one of the most sympathetic – and realistic – portrayals of a Christian minister you’ll see on screen.”
A third agreed, writing: “Have to say the current season of #Shetland is one of the best.”
Some weren’t fully on board the Shetland train, though.
One armchair critic wrote: “BBC’s #Shetland. From Tosh’s ‘one expression does it all’ acting, her character overstepping the mark everywhere to all the police procedurals that are ignored, it goes downhill every week. Used to be so good.”
Another added: “Never before in the history of film or television has it taken six hours to solve a simple crime, whilst keeping an audience interested in watching the tedium. #Shetland.”
A third stated: “I hate to say this, but this current season of #Shetland is one of the worst. Billy being corrupt will no doubt cost the show fan’s. Episode four was boring and it was clear from the beginning that useless Ruth would get the young bold kid killed.”
