Alison O'Donnell has spoken about her decision to leave Shetland after 14 years, saying she will miss both playing Tosh and the "magic and the majesty" of the islands where the BBC drama is filmed.
The actress confirmed her departure at the beginning of November, admitting there would never have been a moment to step away that did not feel "sad and bittersweet". As the detective drama returns to BBC One for its 11th series tonight, November 12, she reflected on the landscape, family trips and the character she will leave behind.
Filming Locations and Family Memories
"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," she said.
Shetland's 11th series was filmed across Scottish mainland locations, including Greenock and Largs, before production moved to the Shetland Isles, taking in Lerwick town centre. Filming locations included Shetland Bookshop, Lerwick Sheriff Court and the waterfront. The Greenock Telegraph shared footage from April 2026, with fans expressing their excitement in the comments, reports the Daily Record.
O'Donnell also spoke about memories made away from the cameras: "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. She has been a constant companion for over a decade. I loved her tenacity and her humour, the way she had no airs and was full of empathy. She gave me so much."
Why She Decided to Leave
Explaining her decision to leave, she said: "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."
In the new series, Tosh and DI Ruth Calder, played by Ashley Jensen, investigate after a male skeleton is found inside a vehicle recovered from water. The victim was well-regarded local GP Raymond Linden, who disappeared from the islands nine years earlier. The detectives must uncover what he was fleeing and why, while his relatives remain divided over what happened to him.
The BBC revealed: "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."
Jensen on the Islands' Appeal
Jensen also shared how filming on the islands helps her feel grounded in her character, describing the location as "magical". "You walk the streets, you get to know the landscape, and you feel part of the place," she said. "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.
"There's a slower pace of life, which is lovely. And I think the guest cast feel incredibly lucky to spend time there. It's such a lovely job."
Shetland season 11 premieres on November 12 on BBC One at 9pm.
