News / Crime drama to film on Shetland
SHETLAND will be in the spotlight again this year when the BBC films a two part drama based on Ann Cleeves’ award-winning crime novel Red Bones.
Acclaimed Scots actor Douglas Henshall has been cast in the lead role as Fair Isle born detective Jimmy Perez returning to the islands to solve a murder mystery.
The drama, written by David Kane, will be filmed in Shetland during the summer and be screened later in the year under the title Shetland. It will be an ITV/BBC collaboration.
Shetland Arts director Gwilym Gibbons said the project would be a major boost for the islands during the year that its cultural centre Mareel opens.
“We have always believed that Ann Cleeves’ characters, borne out of her deep understanding of our seascapes and landscapes, have the potential for the creation a high quality TV drama set in Shetland.
“Shetland also has new facilities like Mareel and local talent and expertise that makes the isles a very attractive place to set a new TV drama. We are very excited to be working with the Shetland production team.”
Executive producer Elaine Collins from ITV said: “We are delighted to be working with the BBC on this commission. Shetland combines eccentric yet warm characters and a classic murder mystery story with the beautiful landscape and rich history of the Shetland Islands and we believe it will be hugely popular with viewers.”
BBC Scottish head of drama Christopher Aird added: “Shetland has a fantastic combination of writing, acting, directing and producing talent. It is a hugely exciting story and part of a project to bring the very best drama to BBC Scotland in the coming years.”
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