Annan actress Ashley Jensen to play leading role in two more series of BBC crime drama Shetland

The 54-year-old joined the show as Detective Ruth Calder following the departure of Douglas Henshall, who played Jimmy Perez

Dumfriesshire actress Ashley Jensen is to play a leading role in two more series of popular BBC crime drama, Shetland which will be filmed across Scotland this year and next.

The 54-year-old, who was brought up in Annan, joined the show as Detective Ruth Calder last year following the departure of Douglas Henshall, who had spent almost a decade playing Jimmy Perez.

Ashley said: “I’m thrilled I’ll be returning to the Shetland Isles again to play the wonderfully complex DI Ruth Calder. The reaction to the last series was incredible and I’m excited at the prospect of unravelling more intrigue.”

Her character left the island when she turned 18 and had spent the past 20 years working for the Met in London before being forced to return to pursue a young woman who witnessed a gangland murder.

It aired in the autumn, averaging seven million viewers across its run. In Scotland, Shetland was the second biggest drama of the year across all channels and streamers, only behind Happy Valley.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.