Douglas Henshall to depart Shetland as award-winning drama returns for a seventh series

Douglas Henshall is to make his final appearance as DI Jimmy Perez in the BBC’s acclaimed drama, Shetland.

Henshall will leave the show at the end of its seventh series, which begins this August on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Shetland will return for an eighth series in 2023, with a new lead and further casting to be announced.

Henshall debuted the role of DI Perez on BBC One in 2013 in the first TV adaptation of the award-winning novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves.

After nine years in the role, Henshall said he made the decision to depart Shetland to explore other acting opportunities.

“After series five of Shetland David Kane and I decided we wanted to do two more series to complete the story of Jimmy Perez,” he explained.

“So series six and seven were commissioned together to give us time to wrap up Perez story to a satisfactory end.

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“It’s been one of the privileges of my career to play Jimmy Perez for almost ten years and to work with so many wonderful people both in front of and behind the camera, and also to spend so much time in Shetland.

“The Isles were so much a part of our show and of Perez himself. I’ll miss him and the place. I wish everyone involved much luck with whatever happens next.”

Douglas Henshall’s last outing as DI Perez features in a thrilling new six-part series of Shetland which sees the team investigate the mysterious disappearance of a vulnerable young man.

The investigation draws Perez into the secret past of a family new to Shetland, revealing an unimaginable threat to the community.

Gaynor Holmes, Executive Producer for BBC Drama says: “It has been an absolute privilege to work on Shetland over the past few years and watch the show go from strength to strength – in no small part thanks to Douglas’s sensitive, intelligent and memorable portrayal of DI Jimmy Perez.

“We will miss him enormously but he leaves the show in rude health and we’re extremely excited about the plans we have for bringing more of this much loved drama to audiences far and wide.”