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Star of huge BBC drama reveals why it will be back for a tenth series before the ninth has even aired
The star addressed stepping into an already popular show
A STAR of a long-running BBC drama has revealed why the show will return for series ten - ahead of series nine even airing.
Crime drama Shetland first hit screens back in March 2013 and was based upon Ann Cleeves' novels.
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Beginning in series eight, Ashley Jensen took over as the lead, playing DI Ruth Calder.
Speaking to The Sun's TV Mag alongside other publications, the star shared an insight into Shetland's re-commissioning for both series nine and ten.
The actress said: "I thought, I can't afford to think, is this going to run for another series or another series or whatever?
"I just thought six episodes of a self-contained show and that's great.
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"So to be commissioned for two series on the back of that with seven point something million viewers was great.
"It was huge. It was a real positive."
Meanwhile, the former Ugly Betty star said she was "very much thrilled" to be continuing in the show.
She replaced Douglas Henshall, who starred as DI Jimmy Pérez for the first seven series.
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Ashley said: "I think when I entered it, I could have gone down the lines of, oh, panic, panic.
"I'm taking over from something that's very well established and a character who's very much loved and has a huge fan base.
Shetland viewers 'give up' on new series and blast the BBC after Douglas Henshall's exit
"Or I can actually just look on it as I'm doing a six part series of a detective called Ruth Calder."
It comes as the start date for Shetland series nine was previously confirmed.
The first episode will air on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday, November 6.
Returning regulars include Steven Robertson as detective Sandy Wilson and Lewis Howden as sergeant Billy McBride.
Shetland series guide
Crime drama Shetland debuted on BBC One back in 2013. With over a decade under its belt, here is a look at the show's journey so far.
Douglas Henshall led the cast in the first seven series, playing DI Jimmy Perez. However, was announced in 2022.
In his place, Ugly Betty alum Ashley Jensen took over, playing newcomer DI Ruth Calder.
- Series One: Ederly Shetlander, Mima Wilson is found murdered. DI Pérez and the team suspect the murder is linked to the Haldane family (to whom Mima was related) and the Shetland bus.
- Series Two: DI Pérez and the team investigate the murder of teenager Catherine Ross. Along the way, they find links to local recluse Magnus Bain - and a seven-year-old's unsolved disappearance two decades earlier.
- Series Three: A young man disappears on a ferry crossing and a small boy ends up in intensive care after overdosing on Ecstasy. DI Pérez and the team become convinced the two events are linked.
- Series Four: Convicted murderer Thomas Malone returns to Shetland, prompting DI Pérez and the team to reopen a 23-year cold case. That case concerns Lizzie Kilmuir, who had been found strangled to death in a lime kiln. However, things take a turn when a local journalist is killed, in apparently a copy of Lizzie's murder.
- Series Five: After severed parts are discovered on a Shetland beach, the victim is determined to be a Nigerian man who'd been looking for his sister. However, the investigation leads Pérez to suspect the murder has ties to a human trafficking ring.
- Series Six: A local lawyer is shot dead on the day of Pérez's mother's funeral. The team focus on two of the lawyer's case - but are impeded by a teenager running a crime blog.
- Series Seven: In Pérez's final series on Shetland, the run starts as he is cleared of wrongdoing by the police tribunal. In his final act, Pérez lets an innocent man - who had been due to be executed for allegedly killing an American citzen - go free while he resigned from the police.
- Series Eight: DI Ruth Calder, who grew up in Shetland, takes over Pérez's old role. In one of Calder's first cases, a young woman flees to Shetland after witnessing a police informant being murdered by hitmen in London.
Meanwhile, stars appearing in the latest instalments have been announced.
Harry Potter actor Ian Hart is taking on the role of Euan Rossi in Shetland's next episodes.
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The 60-year-old played Professor Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - the franchise's first movie.
Shetland airs on BBC One and is available on iPlayer.
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