Shetland Season 8: Everything you need to know about, Renewed or Canceled, Cast, Plot, and Release Date.

Shetland ended Season 7 with the departure of DI Jimmy Perez, which could easily have ended this popular detective drama. Fortunately, however, the BBC has enough faith in the series to extend it for an eighth season, even without its lead, who has been on the show for nine years. 

The BBC was also kind enough to let us know about this extension before the seventh series aired, so we didn’t have to worry about the show’s fate after Douglas Henshall’s departure. What does this mean for the future of Shetland? How will the show go on without Jimmy?

Most importantly, who will replace Henshall in the title role? Join us here at Digital Spy as we share everything you need to know about Shetland’s eighth series on the BBC.

Shetland Season 8 Release Date

Image Credit: BBC One

When the Shetland Season 8 renewal was announced, the BBC confirmed that filming on these new episodes will begin sometime in Spring 2023, meaning the show will most likely return to our screens later in the year.

Shetland Season 8 Cast

When Jimmy’s surprise departure was first announced, Douglas Henshall shared a statement on his departure, saying: “I will miss him and the venue. 

I wish everyone involved the best of luck for whatever happens next.” “He will be greatly missed,” added  BBC Drama Executive Producer Gaynor Holmes. Wide. In a separate interview with the Radio Times, Henshall admitted, “It’s going to be weird knowing they’re filming the eighth season and I’m not going to be there.”

Image Credit: BBC One

I hope it works out and I wish you the best of luck, but it won’t be the show I was on. You have to do a completely different program. The BBC has since confirmed that there will be a new track. marked the beginning, as did similar shows like The Bay. But who could it be? The most obvious choice is Tosh, played by Alison O’Donnell.

Jimmy’s right-hand man has been with us since the beginning and now is the perfect time for him to step up and replace his mentor. Another name mentioned is DI Fraser Brooks played by Brian Ferguson. a relatively new face for Shetland, but story-wise this could make a lot of sense. Fans are pumping things up with other suggestions like Line of Duty’s Martin Compston, but that’s probably wishful thinking at this point. Whatever happens, what I do know is that Mark Bonnar’s Duncan Hunter and Anneika Rose’s Maggie Kean have also left the show for good. And while the BBC hasn’t confirmed who will return, the following seems like a likely bet:

• Steven Robertson as in DC Sandy Wilson
• Lewis Howden as in Sgt Billy McCabe
• Angus Miller as in Donnie
• Conor McCarry as in PC Alex Grant
• Anne Kidd as in Cora McLean

Shetland Season 8 Plot

Image Credit: BBC One

Shetland has long hinted at Jimmy’s departure, but it wasn’t until the end of Season 7 that we finally learned how he would be leaving the show. In short, Jimmy helped a man escape extradition and death, which was obviously the right thing to do, but not when it came to his career. “If the last thing I do is help an innocent man, that’s fine,” Jimmy told Rhona in the season 7 finale. 

End of Jimmy’s role as a detective. While we’ll likely never find out what’s next for him and Meg in, it’s safe to say that the new episodes of Shetland will usher in the introduction of a  new clue, along with the usual cases fans have seen throughout the learned-to-love time last nine years. 

Shetland Season 8 Trailer

With filming set to begin in spring 2023, we can expect to see new footage from Shetland season 8 a few months later in the summer or maybe even autumn of 2023. Be sure to check back here for updates.

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