Planning permission for Perez plaque
THE JIMMY Perez star plaque is one step closer to finding a new home after planning permission was granted for placing it outside Lerwick Sheriff Court.
The Hollywood style star was unveiled in 2021 by Shetland actor Douglas Henshall outside a lodberry in Lerwick which features as his home in the TV show.
But it was removed at the end of the year following representation from the owner of the famed lodberry, with concerns over safety as well as a lack of consultation.
The proposed new site is in front of the court’s steps.
The court building is used as the exterior of the police station in the popular crime drama.
The planning ruling said: “The proposed plaque is considered acceptable in the terms of its location, scale, and colours, and would therefore have no significant adverse impact on the visual amenity of Lerwick Conservation Area, nor upon the character or setting of the listed buildings or the historic environment.”
The idea for the plaque, which honours Henshall and the positive impact the TV show has had on the isles, came about following a meeting between VisitScotland, the SIC and Living Lerwick.
There was a desire to mark the series and its boost to tourism, and to demonstrate how Shetland could “pay its own tribute to the man who brought the character of Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez to life so brilliantly”, VisitScotland said at the time.
Henshall has now left the Shetland TV series, but an eighth series is due to be filmed next year.
He told ITV’s This Morning recently that he would like to see his co-star Tosh – played by Alison O’Donnell – take on a lead role in the show.
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