Shetland season 11 premieres on BBC One tonight, November 12, at 9pm, with DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and Tosh (Alison O'Donnell) investigating a male skeleton found inside a car dredged from water. The victim is respected local GP Raymond Linden, who fled the isles nine years previously, leading the detectives to establish what he was running from and why.
Dark and Dangerous Investigation
The new season, described in various reports as "dark and dangerous," sees the two detectives meet Raymond's family, who are torn over what may have happened to him. The BBC teased: "As Calder and Tosh dig deeper to identify the victim in the car, they must delve into Raymond Linden’s state of mind and the lives of the loved ones he left behind. The investigation takes them to unexpectedly dark and dangerous places in their quest for the truth."
Tosh actress O'Donnell admitted she would miss filming in such a stunning location, sharing: "I'll miss the magic and the majesty of the place. How the air feels different and nature and the landscape come to meet you in the most humbling and awe-inspiring way."
Filming Across Scotland
Season 11 of Shetland was filmed across the Scottish mainland in places like Greenock and Largs, before moving to the Shetland Isles, including Lerwick town centre. Locations included Shetland Bookshop, Lerwick Sheriff Court and the waterfront. The Greenock Telegraph posted footage from April 2026, with fans flocking to the comments to express their excitement.
Expanding on why she loved the location so much, O'Donnell said: "I'll also miss bringing my family and doing all our favourite trips - Sands of Sound beach and poking around in all the little gift shops. And I'll miss Tosh."
Cast Departures and Tours
At the start of November, the actress announced she would be leaving the series after more than a decade. She shared: "I've been involved with it for 14 years now and I've been so lucky to have been given so many different storylines and challenges and to have worked with so many extraordinary actors but at this point it feels like we've probably explored it enough. I don't think I would ever have found a moment to step away that didn't feel sad and bittersweet, but something in me said 'leap', and so I did."
Her co-star Jensen also opened up about her filming experience on the Shetland Isles, saying it really helps root her in her character. "You walk the streets, you get to know the landscape, and you feel part of the place," she added, calling it a "magical" location. "It unifies the cast and crew, and I think we all feel drawn to it. We’re genuinely excited to go back each year. We make our own entertainment too. Some of the crew go wild swimming. I don’t, because I’m convinced I’d get hypothermia if I started regularly throwing myself into the sea," she joked.
Robertsons runs a Shetland locations tour, saying the series has "really put Shetland on the map and attracted worldwide attention to the beautiful locations featured throughout." The eight-hour tour features some of the most photographed locations from Bain's Beach to Lerwick Police Station, from Market Cross and Commercial Street to St Ninian's Isle. There are many other travel companies offering tours of some of Shetland's most popular filming hotspots, which help set the scene for the show's gripping investigations.
