Shetland's Ashley Jensen teases changing Ruth/Tosh relationship in new series

Shetland season 9 episode 5 Tosh and Calder
(Image credit: BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie Simpson)

Shetland star Ashley Jensen has teased that we will see a change in the dynamic between the lead characters in the upcoming new series.

Shetland season 10 will see a complex new case for tenacious crime-fighting duo DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and DI Alison "Tosh" McIntosh (Alison O'Donnell).

They travel to the isolated fictional hamlet of Lunniswick to investigate the suspicious death of a retired social worker.

“I love playing Ruth,” Ashley tells us. "She's fiercely independent and doesn't care what other people’s opinion is of her!"

Calder in Shetland season 9 episode 2

Ashley joined as Calder in 2023 (Image credit: ITV)

Ashley, who made her debut as Ruth in 2023 to replace Douglas Henshall's outgoing DI Jimmy Perez, is also delighted at the way her and co-star Alison's on-screen partnership is involving. And teases that the new series will see a change.

“Alison and I have gone from strength to strength, as have Rush and Tosh. And this season, without giving too much away, the dynamic shifts between them. We see them where they’re both flawed and human.”

Luckily, the pair can again rely on the help of returning regulars DC Sandy Wilson (Steven Robertson), Sgt Billy McCabe (Lewis Howden), and pathologist Cora McLean (Anne Kidd).

Calder (Ashley Jensen) and Tosh (Alison O'Donnell) stand inside a warehouse or workshop of some kind - there is a large industrial concertina-style door behind them that's half open, and various items like a small bedside cabinet and an outboard motor scattered around in need of repair

Calder and Tosh have become a great team (Image credit: BBC/Silverprint Films)

Amandaland’s Samuel Anderson joins the cast as new procurator fiscal Matt Blake, while guest stars include Louise Brealey (Sherlock), Ellie Haddington (Motherland), and Clive Russell (Dept. Q).

Filming has been taking place for Shetland over the summer ahead of it returning to BBC One most likely this autumn.

Alison previously said: "I'm really proud of the journey this show has been on and of the way it continues to evolve and grow in exciting and surprising ways."

Shetland season 10 is expected to air on BBC One in the autumn of 2025. See our best BBC dramas guide for more series to enjoy.

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David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!

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