Douglas Henshall to quit role in crime drama Shetland

Image source, Mark Mainz

Douglas Henshall will make his final appearance in BBC crime drama Shetland as the award-winning show returns for a seventh series.

The Glasgow-born actor made his debut as DI Jimmy Perez in 2013 in the first TV adaptation of crime writer Ann Cleeves' novels. .

The crime drama will return for an eighth series in 2023 with a new track to be announced in due course.

Henshall said he would miss DI Perez and Shetland.

"It has been one of the privileges of my career to play Jimmy Perez for almost 10 years and to work with so many great people in front and behind the camera, and also to spend so much time in Shetland," he said.

"The islands were so much a part of our show and Perez him We will miss him and the place."

BBC Drama executive producer Gaynor Holmes said Henshall left the show in " poor health" and that she was excited about plans for her future.

"It has been an absolute privilege to work on Shetland over the last few years and watch the show go from strength to strength - thanks in large part to Douglas's sensitive, intelligent and memorable portrait of DI Jimmy Perez," she said. "He will be sorely missed."