Powerful murder-mystery drama Shetland, has been re-commissioned by BBC One for a second series in collaboration with BBC Scotland and produced by ITV Studios.
Following its successful two-part debut last month, Shetland will return for a second run as a bigger 6-part series (three 2x60mins) with Douglas Henshall returning to the lead role as Detective Jimmy Perez.
Made by ITV Studios and based on the novels by acclaimed writer Ann Cleeves, the next series will focus on the three of the remaining stories from Ann's "Shetland Series" – Raven Black, Dead Water and Blue Lightning – told as three two-part (2x60mins) episodes.
Raven Black will be written by Gaby Chiappe (The Paradise, Vera), Dead Water by David Kane (Rebus, Field of Blood, This Years Love) and Blue Lightning by Richard Davidson (Silent Witness, Eastenders).
Over two nights, the debut series attracted a combined audience of over 12million viewers. Filming on the second series of "Shetland" will take place in the coming months on Shetland and other Scottish locations.
Author Ann Cleeves said she was delighted the BBC has commissioned a series, giving viewers the opportunity to get to know Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez and of course Shetland itself much better.
"I was very pleased with the pilot production of 'Shetland' and the warm response it received across the country," she said.
"I'm thrilled that the BBC has now commissioned Elaine Collins and her team at ITV Studios to make a whole series.
"I'm looking forward to helping the scriptwriters as much as I can and I'm sure Shetland will do what it does best and pull out all the stops to help filming in this most beautiful part of the world."
Elaine Collins, Executive Producer, ITV Studios says: “I'm thrilled by the terrific response we've had to Shetland. The Scottish landscape is one of the most beautiful places on earth and I'm delighted to be given the opportunity to work again with Douglas Henshall and the team on Ann Cleeves' wonderful SHETLAND stories."
Christopher Aird, Head of Drama Scotland & Executive Producer, adds: “I am so pleased we are taking Shetland to a full series. Douglas Henshall is a hugely talented lead and Shetland such a unique part of the country; we can look forward to a series of characterful, thrilling and windswept stories.”
Shetland was recommissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning and Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC One and co-commissioned by Ewan Angus, Head of Commissioning, Scotland.
The commission comes at an exciting time for drama from Scotland and complements distinctive productions that include Waterloo Road (BBC One), River City (BBC One Scotland), The Challenger (BBC Two), Case Histories (BBC One), and BAFTA Scotland award-winning Field Of Blood (BBC One Scotland).