Is Shetland on BBC One based on a true story?
SHETLAND fans are thrilled that the hit crime drama is returning to BBC One.
The series is based on the novels of English crime writer Ann Cleeves, but where did she get her inspiration from?
Is Shetland on BBC One based on a true story?
BBC crime series Shetland is based upon the novels of Ann Cleeves.
The series was first brought to the screen by David Kane, who has remained a principal writer throughout the series.
While Cleeves’ eight Shetland novels don't exactly lift from true events, they are inspired by her time living in on the island, and also her work as a probation officer.
Cleeves told the in 2016: “It is more than 40 years since I first went to Shetland because I got there in 1975.
"The Shetland plots couldn’t be set anywhere else because they are intrinsic to what is going on in Shetland."
The writers have chosen to loosely follow the essence of Ann’s books and characters, while they create new stories.
Read More on Shetland
But from season five onwards, the Shetland plot is entirely fictional.
Ann has also written the Vera Stanhope series of books which have also been turned into a successful TV series.
And she's behind The Long Call, a TV series adapted from her new series of books.
What is Shetland about?
Shetland follows DI Jimmy Perez, a straightforward detective inspector who lives in Shetland and shares his stepdaughter Cassie's upbringing with her real father.
The 2022 series focuses on the disappearance of a "vulnerable" young man.
The action has moved on a year after Duncan (Mark Bonnar) handed himself in over an assisted suicide at the end of season six.
Perez is back on the frontline after his suspension.
Most read in TV
Who is in the cast of Shetland?
After season seven, Shetland will see the departure of Douglas Henshall, who will be
Henshall has said he'll explain his "reasons for leaving later".
Most of the main cast for the series will also be back for season seven, which includes:
- Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez
- Alison O’Donnell as DS Alison "Tosh" McIntosh
- Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson
- Mark Bonnar as Duncan Hunter
- Anne Kidd as Cora McLean
- Lewis Howden as Sgt Billy McCabe
- Erin Armstrong as Cassie Perez
- Angus Miller as Donnie
- Anneika Rose as Maggie Kean
What happened in Shetland season six?
WARNING: Contains spoilers from season six of Shetland
Season six saw the return of a familiar face: Donna Killick, who (back in season four) was revealed to be a murderer after Jimmy Perez reopened the cold case murder of teenager Lizzie Kilmuir.
Donna returned home to Shetland on compassionate grounds, after she was diagnosed with cancer while in prison.
However, things took a turn when she convinced Duncan to help her die by suicide before she could be transferred back to prison, which he did by mixing all her medicine into her mug of hot chocolate for her.
Donna tried to frame Duncan as she told her lawyer ahead of her death that Duncan had pressured her to die.
The episode ended in Duncan confessing and telling his side of the story to save Jimmy's career but this backfired and Jimmy was arrested in the final moments of the episode.
How can I watch Shetland?'
Shetland makes an explosive return to TV on August 10, 2022, at 9pm on BBC One.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
Episodes will air weekly on Wednesdays at the same time.
You can also catch up with episodes on the .