Swathes of Scotland are expected to be hit with snow and ice as a yellow weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for the first day of 2026
Yellow warnings for ice and snow have been issued for much of the country on New Years Day(Image: GettyImages)
Scots may have missed out on a white Christmas this year, but snowy conditions look set to make an appearance as the New Year begins. Forecasters suggest January will get off to a very cold start, with snow flurries expected in the first two days of January and icy conditions likely to affect travel in several areas.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across parts of Scotland, with the warning in place from from 6am on January 1 to 11:59pm on January 2. The weather warning comes as persistent cold northerly winds sweep across the country.
Much of Scotland is being warned that the snow and ice may cause disruption to travel plans in the New Year, with the possibility of stranded vehicles and passengers as well as delays or cancelations to rail and air travel.
“Cold northerly winds, initially across Scotland are now expected to become dominant across the whole UK in the first week of January. These will bring wintry showers (often of snow) to many coastlines (and areas just inland of these) that are exposed to onshore winds,” the Met Office said.
The Met Office also warns that day to day changes in wind direction could shift where the heaviest snow falls. They continue: “Subtle day-to-day changes in wind direction from northeast to northwest will change the places most exposed to the showers, but many inland locations across central and southern areas will remain mostly dry but cold.
“There are likely to be some more coherent bands of rain, sleet and snow working south, and these may bring a risk of more prolonged wintry precipitation affecting some inland areas.
“Towards the second half of this period, slightly milder conditions will attempt to move in from the west.”
WXCharts, which uses MetDesk data, suggests that much of Scotland, including Aberdeen and Perth, could see persistent snowfall from the afternoon of January 1. By January 2, snow is expected to spread further south, reaching areas such as Inverness.
Snow depth charts suggest that some parts of northwest Scotland could see up to 17 inches on snow by Thursday, January 1.
The yellow weather warning for ice and snow, put in place by the Met Office, covers:
Affected areas
Strathclyde
Orkney & Shetland
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Grampian
Central, Tayside & Fife
What to expect
Disruption to travel is likely on roads, with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel
There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off
There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
There is a chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
Shetland series 10 wrapped up with a gripping finale, finally unmasking Eadie Tulloch’s killer and confirming the fate of much-loved Sgt Billy McCabe.
This season saw Calder and Tosh head to the remote hamlet of Lunniswick after the brutal murder of Eadie. Her body had been left exposed to the elements for days, and from the outset, the crime felt painfully personal.
As the investigation deepened, the murky world surrounding her family came into focus – from the corrupt dealings of her late husband Robert Tulloch to the criminal behaviour of her son Ed. Piece by piece, it became clear everything was connected.
In the final episode, the detectives uncovered the truth at last, securing justice for Eadie while also confronting the fallout from Billy’s earlier decision to hide crucial evidence. If you’re still piecing together exactly how it all came together, here’s your full guide to the ending of Shetland series 10.
***Warning: spoilers from the Shetland ending ahead***
Clive Russell as vengeful Arthur Mair in the Shetland series 10 ending (Credit: BBC One)
What happened in the Shetland series 10 ending?
The popular crime drama Shetland reached its dramatic conclusion this week (Wednesday, December 10, 2025). It saw the team race to “save one of their own”, as the truth about Eadie’s murder emerged and the pool of suspects began to narrow…
In the penultimate episode 5 of Shetland, viewers discovered that Ed Tulloch was working alongside the Callaghan crime gang. But this was all too little to late for DI Ruth Calder, who’d enjoyed a drunken one-night stand with him and found herself in possible danger.
The morning after the night before, Calder woke to several missed calls – and was horrified and embarrassed to discover that her brief fling was a wrong’un.
After interviewing Ed, Calder and Tosh were further blindsided by a shocking revelation about Lunniswick’s secret past that changed the course of their investigation – and led them straight to their killer…
Who killed Eadie Tulloch?
Arthur Mair murdered Eadie Tulloch as payback for her involvement in the death of his son Ally. Viewers knew that Arthur and Lana’s son Ally Mair died in a huge storm 20 years ago in Lunniswick. Eadie and Robert’s son Craig died in the infamous storm too. The official story was that the young men had died after going out the night before the storm on their fishing boat the Lintie. But that wasn’t the whole truth…
In fact, we discovered that Craig and Ally HAD returned before the storm hit. But corrupt police officer Robert – and in turn his wife Eadie – had sent them out again.
Eadie let this small detail slip decades later while being interviewed by neighbour Colin Waite. She admitted she had watched the Lintie sail away in daylight – not darkness as previously believed.
The revelation eventually led to her death, and she died facing the very spot where the Lintie sank. Robert was working alongside the drug trafficking family the Callaghan’s. And tragically, he’d got his own son Craig involved in the business. Even after his death, he’d got his other son Ed involved, too (more on that below).
Eadie Tulloch let slip an incriminating detail decades after the death of her son (Credit: BBC One)
Shetland series 10 ending: What happened to the Lintie?
The Lintie returned from its fishing trip only to be sent out into the eye of the storm again. All because of Robert Tulloch’s relationship with the Callaghan’s.
The official story was that Craig and Ally took the Lintie out the night before the storm, and never came back. However, they DID come back but Eadie sent them back out because of Robert and his connection to the Callaghan’s. Shockingly, Eadie was complicit in her husband’s corruption.
The truth? There was a boat due in with a cargo of drugs that night, but the storm meant the boat was unable to get close. Instead, an absent Robert told Eadie to send the boys out to collect the drugs before the coast guard got to the boat.
So Eadie sent their son Craig and friend Ally into the storm all because of drugs and money. When Arthur found out the truth, he punished Eadie.
He told the detective duo: “She sent them to their deaths to protect that corrupt bastard.”
DI Ruth Calder summarised the significance of the lie. She said: “The loss of the Lintie defined that village. That story is in the bones of everyone who lives there.”
After Arthur’s confession, police charged him with murder.
Was Ed Tullock a villain?
Viewers discovered that Ed Tulloch had been working for the Callaghan crime family. But he wasn’t exactly crooked through and through. Although he’d been present when Callaghan henchman Lewis Mitchell injected Will Louden with a heroin overdose, he insisted he hadn’t known what was going to happen.
He explained: “I have an arrangement with some people in Edinburgh. Business partners. I pass on information and, in return, they help me with the pub.”
Ed insisted: “I don’t work for the Callaghans. Sometimes I work with people who might be associated with them. I hardly know these people. I just fixed things. The things I do, I’m just a glorified gopher.”
As DI Ruth Calder suspected, Ed was the front man, the fixer, a respectable face for the drug cartel. All the while, he was able to keep his hands clean.
Shockingly, his involvement was also inadvertently a result of his dad Robert’s corruption. He told Calder: “Three months after my dad died, some guy turned up at the pub. He told me how much dad was making working for some friends of his, and wanted me to do something for him, a favour. Ten years later, they’ve still got their hooks in me.”
To be fair, it sounds like Ed Tulloch didn’t have a lot of choice when it came to working for the Callaghan crew.
Police arresting Ed Tulloch in Shetland (Credit: BBC)
Shetland series 10 ending: Did Billy lose his job?
Billy’s fate was left in the balance in the Shetland ending. So we’ll have to wait and see if he returns in possible future series.
Although Tosh decided NOT to report Billy for failing to flag his colleague Robert’s crimes, Billy took the matter into his own hands.
In an emotional conversation between Tosh and Billy in the closing moments of the series.
He told her: “I called policing standards this morning. I told them everything. My rep says I have to take some leave until the investigation is concluded. And then I’ll have to deal with whatever they decide should happen. I’m sorry I let you down Tosh.”
In fact, withholding evidence is considered a serious breach of the law. Billy could even face criminal charges of perverting the course of justice. Fans will have to wait to find out if Billy’s career survives the process.
What else happened in the Shetland series 10 ending?
The finale also tied up several emotional threads away from the main investigation.
Jess gave birth to a baby boy and named him Ally, in a touching tribute to her late uncle. In a storyline that’s tugged at viewers’ hearts all series, it appeared she’d decided to keep her son rather than proceed with the adoption she once felt was inevitable.
Meanwhile, DI Ruth Calder was confident the team had finally gathered enough evidence to bring the Callaghan family to justice.
And in a moment of pure relief, Will Louden pulled through – a lifeline Ruth had been desperately hoping for.
Shetland certainly didn’t hold back with its ending, delivering closure, heartbreak and hope in equal measure.
Shetland series 10 continued on BBC One this week, and episode 2 delivered another round of twists, secrets and simmering tension in Lunniswick.
The episode picked up from last week’s shocking cliffhanger, when Lana Muir set fire to Eadie Tulloch’s house. In Wednesday’s instalment (November 12), DI Ruth Calder and DI Tosh got to work unravelling her motives – and what she might be hiding.
Lana’s decision not only wiped out crucial evidence linked to Eadie’s murder but also hinted that she knew far more about who wanted the elderly woman dead.
Here’s a full recap of Shetland series 10 episode 2 – including the five biggest revelations that kept viewers guessing.
***Warning: spoilers from Shetland series 10 episode 2 ahead***
Clive Russell and Ellie Haddington as Arthur and Lana Mair in Shetland S10 (Credit: BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie Simpson)
Shetland series 10 episode 2 recap: Why did Lana set fire to Eadie’s house?
At the beginning of the episode, Calder and Tosh took Lana Muir in for questioning after she set fire to Eadie’s house. We’ve been told that Lana is suffering from dementia, but perhaps she isn’t quite as confused as we’ve been led to believe…
Did she, in fact, know what she was doing? During questioning, Lana described Eadie as a “force of nature”, and admitted they’d been friends before she died.
But she later said something much more revealing. Talking about Eadie’s death, Lana told the detectives: “You reap what you sow. She was always nosing into other people’s business.”
When Calder and Tosh pressed Lana further, asking if Eadie had ever “hurt someone”, Lana said: “That’s all behind us now. Some things are best left to lie.”
However, “vulnerable adult” Lana soon became distressed. This led to Procurator Fiscal Matt Blake (Samuel Anderson in the cast) warning the detectives that they couldn’t question her again.
So did Eadie have enemies, and was Lana one of them? We later found out that Lana and Eadie had been “close” friends – “kin not blood”. But something – or someone in this case – came between them. More on that below.
What happened to Eadie’s son Craig?
Eadie’s son – and Ed’s brother – Craig died in the infamous storm that devastated Lunniswick in the early 2000s. It killed several locals Lana and Arthur’s son Ally, too.
Both Craig and Ally “died young” during the storm while working on a fishing boat called The Linty. The boat sank during the turbulence.
Lana was a “positive and warm person” until the tragic loss of her son over two decades ago. The tragedy left Lana overwhelmed with grief.
At this stage, it’s unclear if the storm has anything to do with Eadie’s death. However it was the reason Eadie and her son Ed were estranged. He told Ashley: “It’s what started the rift between me and mum. I could never live up to Craig.”
Stevie and Amy Shannon are suspects (Credit: BBC)
Who are Amy and Stevie Shannon in Shetland series 10?
Sergeant Billy McCabe’s wife Morag used to work with the victim, Eadie Tulloch, in Shetland social services. And she pointed Tosh to a possible person to interest in Eadie’s death – a person called Amy Shannon.
Amy Shannon was an old case of Eadie’s. Eadie had recommended that Amy and her sister Stevie be removed from their birth mum who, according to the files, was neglectful. Amy is now suing social services. Morag described Amy as “angry” and “looking for someone to blame”. But enough to commit murder?
Amy was adopted in Shetland, and became a teacher. She now has a flat in Lerwick with a partner, and their child. Her sister Stevie ended up on the mainland and was bought up in Aberdeen. The sisters didn’t see each other for years. Long story short, as a social worker, Eadie’s work often made her unpopular…
When Tosh visited Amy and her sister Stevie, Amy told her the reason for their complaint. She said: “A few months after we were removed, our mum died, and they split us up. Stevie’s been through four different foster families, and two children’s homes.”
Tosh “got a weird vibe from Stevie” and so, quite frankly, did we. We later discovered that Stevie had a bit of a “disturbing” history… There were concerns that she’d been “manipulating other children” in her care homes, turning them against once another, and “encouraging them to run away with her”.
In the episode, someone called social services on Amy Shannon and her husband – but who?
Shetland series 10 episode 2 recap: Arthur became a new suspect
Arthur became prime suspect in episode 2 of Shetland series 10. When Tosh and Calder finally got to interview Lana again, she became agitated at her husband Arthur. She said: “I know what happened to Eadie. It was terrible what Arthur did. You’ve got a temper on you Arthur.”
Did Arthur kill Eadie and Lana burnt her house down to cover his tracks? Turns out that Arthur and Eadie had had an affair, but he “ended it for good” as soon as Lana was diagnosed with dementia “five years back”.
Another vital piece of information he’d kept from the police was that he visited Eadie on the night she died. He’d dropped around some food and whisky and they “drank, ate, and chatted”. However he insisted they had “just the one dram”, but the quantity found in her stomach contradicted that.
The autopsy showed that Eadie had a “skinful” of whisky in her belly when she died and was likely drunk, which explained why she hadn’t fought back. Even weirder when you consider that Eadie didn’t drink. According to Colin Waite anyway. As Di Ruth Calder put it: “Our 76-year-old victim was paralytic at the time of her murder.”
However, Arthur insisted that when he’d left her, Eadie was fine. He had gone home and spent the rest of the evening with his wife and family.
Tosh believed the affair, while reason enough for Lana to set Eadie’s house on fire, wasn’t a “motive”, but more like “a defence”. They let Arthur go – for now.
Saskia Ashdown and Gabriel Akuwudike as Hayley and Chris Burnett in Shetland series 10 (Credit: BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie Simpson)
Shetland series 10 episode 2 recap: What is Hayley’s secret?
Hayley was clearly hiding a secret in episode 2 of Shetland series 1o. Chris accused her of “sneaking around” and constantly “checking her phone”. Not only that we also found our she had a secret phone. While she insisted it was because she runs two restaurants, the truth came out eventually.
In fact, Hayley admitted she was in “deep shit”. She said: “That’s why I bought us here. The restaurant’s got into debt and I’ve done something stupid. Now I have to do exactly what I’m told or we’re in danger. All of us.”
Hayley Burnett had a huge bag full of heroin, which she had to hand over to a dealer. After that, they’d be “free”. Allegedly. Is any of this related to Eadie’s murder or just a side-plot? All will be revealed in the coming episodes.
Arthur and Eadie’s affair. It turns out Arthur and Eadie were more than just old friends. He even admitted to visiting her on the night she died, raising serious questions about what really happened before the blaze.
Eadie’s whisky mystery. When Eadie’s autopsy revealed high levels of whisky in her system, Ruth and Tosh were left wondering why she suddenly started drinking after Arthur left.
Hayley’s dangerous deal. Hayley Burnett’s presence in Shetland took a dark turn when it emerged she’d brought a bag full of heroin to the island. She’s being blackmailed by ruthless moneylenders she once borrowed from – and it’s clear they’ll stop at nothing.
A long-standing grudge. Amy and Stevie Shannon’s history with social worker Eadie was far from friendly. The pair clearly held a grudge, putting them firmly in the frame for having a motive.
A tragic shared past. In a heartbreaking twist, both Lana and Eadie lost sons in the devastating storm of the early 2000s. The question now is whether that shared tragedy has anything to do with Eadie’s shocking death.
Shetland episode 3 airs on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Shetland series 8 continued this week with episode 3, and ended on a pretty shocking revelation – that DI Ruth Calder could be related to the murder victim.
Now THAT would be a serious conflict of interest for the visiting detective, who doesn’t seem to be in any rush to get back to work with the London’s Met police…
Meanwhile, we’re still no nearer knowing who killed Ellen, although her body was last seen on a field seemingly as some sort of symbolic sacrifice.
Here are all the burning questions we have after watching Shetland series 8 episode 3… Are you as gripped as us?
***Warning: spoilers from Shetland series 8 episode 3 ahead***
Is Ellen Quinn related to DI Ruth Calder? (Credit: ITV Studios/Mark Mainz)
Shetland series 8 episode 3 questions: Are Ruth Calder and Ellen Quinn sisters?
DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) clearly has no love whatsoever for her dad, the late Reverend Calder. He seems to be the main – or only – reason she left Shetland when she was a teenager, and never looked back (until now). While her brother Alan seems to think he was a good dad, and Ruth should cut him some slack, Ruth’s old flame Cal Innes has also mentioned her dad being difficult…
In episode 3, we discovered at least one of the reasons why Ruth seems to hate her late dad. And it’s a pretty valid reason! Viewers learnt that the OG Reverend Calder cheating on Ruth’s mum when she was dying of cancer.
Jean Ferguson (Jennifer Black) turned up at Ruth’s hotel to clear the air, but it didn’t really work out like that. Instead, Jean spilled some more unwelcome home truths about Ruth’s dad. More specifically, that she wasn’t the only woman he cheated with.
In fact, she dropped quite the bombshell on unflappable DI Calder. Jean revealed that Ruth’s dad also had an affair with Stella Quinn (Dawn Steele). Not only a woman half his age, but also the mother of the murder victim at the centre of this series of Shetland.
Back in her room, Ruth Calder gazed at photos of Stella Quinn, and her daughter Ellen, comparing them to a picture of her dad and herself when she was younger. Were you thinking what she was obviously thinking? That Stella Quinn could have become pregnant with Rev Calder’s child, making Ellen Quinn Ruth’s secret sister.
Why did Peter Ayre steal Ellen’s body, and what does the sign mean?
In Shetland series 8 episode 3, we discovered that plumber Peter Ayre – the eyewitness in the first instalment – had been indulging in some very disturbing practices.
He stole Ellen’s dead body from the mortuary, and tried to burn her corpse in a ritualistic fire. Luckily, DI Calder and ‘Temporary’ DI Tosh managed to stop him in time. But why on EARTH was he doing it?
Does this mean he’s the man who has been slaughtering sheep on the island? And is he responsible for Ellen’s death? We’ll have to wait until episode 4 when Ruth and Tosh get to interrogate him.
As yet, we don’t know what the symbol tattooed on Ellen’s body meant. But it’s the same symbol found sprayed on the dead sheep, and that Peter Ayre marked out in petrol in the field before setting it alight. Is the symbol personal to Ellen and Peter, and what does it mean?
Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder and Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilkinson (Credit: ITV Studios)
Shetland series 8 episode 3: Who killed Ellen Quinn?
As yet, we’re not really any closer to finding out who killed Ellen Quinn… Is firestarter Peter Ayre to blame? At this point, we doubt it. More likely that they were friends, and he was honouring her death with the weird ritualistic fire.
We still suspect the less than empathetic granny Grace Bain may have played a part… However, other suspects came to light in episode 3. Not least Shetland loner Tom Knox. He left a corn doll where her dead body was found, and seemed to have a bit of a crush on her. We also learnt, though, that she was “scared of him” and that Tom “used to hassle her” and “give her grief”.
Another eyebrow-raising complication is that Tom Knox’s family had beef with Ellen’s family, the Bains’. They fell out over some land way back, and it’s certainly enough of a reason to want revenge against the family. Basically, the Bains left the Knox family totally broke, essentially robbing Tom Knox of his inheritance. Crucially, Tom has no alibi for when Ellen was killed.
Honestly, though, it’s probably none of these suspects! If we know Shetland, it will be someone we’ve not even thought of yet!
What happened to Dr Azir Sadat’s son?
Viewers also learnt more about Dr Azir Sadat and his wife Farida in episode 3 of Shetland series 8. Namely that Ellen’s cousin Heather is blackmailing them.
We discovered that Azir and Farida’s son “drowned” when he fell into the loch behind their family home, but Heather seems to think this isn’t the whole truth. As Azir told her to “back off” and told her “there’s no more money”, she hissed back: “We both know who killed your boy. So, if you want to see your little girl grow up, you’d better stick to the deal.”
How this is related to Ellen Quinn’s murder, if at all, we don’t yet know. But we DO know that Dr Azir Sadat was the last person Ellen called before she died.
Ellen had stayed at the Landmark psychiatric unit, where Dr Sadat works, after suffering from an acute case of dissociative disorder. Essentially she had a breakdown. And it was Ellen’s cousin Heather who took her in, where they kept her in for a few days. How is this all linked?
Singer and actress Lorraine McIntosh plays Ellen’s cousin Heather Bain in Shetland (Credit: ITV Studios/Jamie Simpson)
Shetland series 8 episode 3: How is Amma Calder involved?
In episode 2 of Shetland, DI Ruth Calder made the awful realisation that her sister-in-law Anna Calder may be connected to Ellen Quinn’s death.
After all, she smokes the same unique brand of cigarettes that were found where Ellen was staying just before she was killed. However, Amma is denying any link. So why lie if she’s innocent and doesn’t know anything?
We now know that Amma met Ellen at Landbank, but were they closer than Amma says? If so, why is she lying?
Is DI Calder staying in Shetland?
DI Calder no longer has any reason to be in Shetland. Ellen Quinn’s death is no longer linked to Cassidy and his thugs, so Ruth can go back to London and carry on her life. But she hasn’t returned.
Could the pull of her hometown – or her old flame Cal – be too much for her? Meanwhile, we know that Tosh can’t become DI without working elsewhere for a while. And she’s not prepared to do that. So… It’s looking like a DI Ruth Calder shoe-in. And we couldn’t be happier!
Shetland series 8 continued on BBC One this Wednesday with episode 2 – and we were not expecting THAT twist at the end!
The popular drama followed DI Ruth Calder and “temporary DI” Tosh as they attempted to find the armed killers hiding on Shetland. While Tosh believed that the hand of organised crime was involved in Ellen Quinn’s death, Ruth suspected Ellen’s death was far more personal…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, Agnes Moffat had her morning drive interrupted by John Howell who forced her to pull over and help him. Taking Agnes hostage, Howell made a terrified Agnes attempt to keep his accomplice Lukas Novak alive. He was bleeding out and in serious danger of dying after being accidentally shot in a struggle with Ellen the night before.
As the episode played out, Lukas died, while John Howell was eventually arrested. And a new suspect was thrown into the spotlight…
Here’s all the burning questions we have after watching Shetland episode 2 on BBC One.
DI Ruth Calder and Tosh find Ellen’s dead body in Shetland (Credit: ITV Studios/Mark Mainz)
Shetland episode 2: What is the meaning of Ellen’s tattoo?
At the end of Shetland episode 2, Tosh and pathologist Cora McLean discussed the cause of Ellen Quinn’s death. As DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) suspected, the murder looks very personal.
Turns out she was strangled to death, and didn’t put up a struggle… John Howell denied any involvement in her murder, and we believed him. Surely they would have just shot her?
As the examination of Ellen Quinn continued, Tosh made one of the most revelatory discoveries yet. Beside some cuts and bruises on Ellen’s leg, Tosh spotted a tattoo. Horrified, she realised Ellen’s tattoo is the SAME symbol that has been sprayed on the dead sheep.
Viewers will know from Shetland episode 1 that Tosh has been investigating a series of unfortunate and cruel deaths on the island. Someone has been killing sheep by cutting their throats, and marking them with a mysterious symbol.
After the spate of sheep slaughters, Toff was forced to consider the fact that there might be Satanists in Shetland. And now the same symbol is tattooed on Ellen’s leg. How are the two connected?
Anne Kidd as pathologist Cora McLean in Shetland (Credit: ITV Studios/Jamie Simpson)
Is Ashley’s family involved after cigarette revelation?
It wasn’t just the tattoo that was a chilling discovery in Shetland episode 2. As DI Ruth Calder’s part of the Ellen Quinn investigation ended – with Lukas dead, and John Howell banged up – she prepared to leave the island.
But first, she decided to visit her estranged brother Alan. Remember this is the very same brother who swore he barely knew Ellen Quinn, despite photographic evidence of them together.
The evening seemed to go well, and Ruth warmed to serial hugger Amma Calder – her brother’s wife. After saying their goodbyes, Ruth left to wait for her cab, while Amma insisted on waiting with her. Sweet, but really just an excuse to have a sneaky fag behind her husband’s back.
After Ruth heroically agreed to take the cigarette butt and hide it, she noticed the distinctive brand of tobacco… The exact same brand found in Ellen’s bedroom before she died. So is there a link between Ellen Quinn and Ruth’s brother and wife?
Jamie Sives as Cal Innes in Shetland (Credit: ITV Studios/Mark Mainz)
Shetland episode 2: What is Call Innes hiding?
Cal Innes (Jamie Sives) may be sexy as hell, but he’s definitely hiding something. In Shetland episode 2, we discovered that a silver transit van had been seen near where Ellen Quinn was found murdered. And it just happened to be Cal’s. Under questioning, he insisted he had nothing to do with her disappearance and said he’d just stopped for a smoke – but we smelt something seriously fishy!
Of course, our suspicions were later confirmed when Cal met up with Ellen’s cousin and discussed some shady business… Although we’re pretty sure Cal didn’t kill Ellen, he’s definitely involved in something, possibly drugs.
Who killed Ellen Quinn?
At the end of Shetland series 8, episode 1, DI Ruth Calder and Tosh found Ellen Quinn’s dead body. First assumptions were obviously that Cassidy’s men had got to her. But now it’s clear someone local killed her.
Like all good crime dramas, there are multiple possible suspects at this point. Cal is still in the running, although unlikely at this point. But there’s something weird going on with Heather and Neil Bain. In fact, the whole of the Bain family seem dodgy.
Talking about her grand-daughter, Grace Bain (Phyllis Logan) said: “She’s gone and got herself killed.” Not exactly a devastated granny! We’d like to see Liam’s alibi too…
As for motive, well that remains to be seen. But hints of a Satanic cult could be key.
Who killed Ellen Quinn in Shetland? (Credit: ITV Studios/Mark Mainz)
Shetland episode 2: Will Ashley Jensen character DI Ruth Calder be back?
Once Cassidy’s men had been ruled out of Ellen Quinn’s murder investigation, there was no reason for DI Ruth Calder to be on Shetland anymore.
Calder and Tosh said their goodbyes. But hang on, hasn’t she been teased as Perez’s replacement? Obviously DI Ruth Calder will be back – but why?
Could it be because of her connections to some of the suspects?
Will we ever meet Cassidy?
Working for London’s Met police, DI Calder had been investigating a criminal called Cassidy. Of course, it was his henchmen who arrived in Shetland looking for the money Ellen had stolen from him.
But now Bobby Bain has the money… Will Cassidy send more men for the money? Or will he come himself?
Shetland has finally returned to BBC One with series 8, and episode 1 introduced Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder.
It’s been just over a year since viewers said a very heavy goodbye to Jimmy Perez, and his fantastic navy peacoat. And, I’m not going to lie, I miss him more than a TV writer should reasonably miss a fictional character.
Yes, readers, I had a huge crush on him. But… Shetland continues without him, and it contains all the same elements that made the show so popular in the first place. A great story, based on the books by Ann Cleeves, beautiful scenery, and authentic characters.
None less so than newbie Ashley Jensen, who joins the cast as ice queen Ruth Calder. But don’t be fooled. She’ll thaw eventually, despite the chilly Scottish temperatures. Like Unforgotten, DCI Jessica James could never replace beloved Cassie. And, here, Ruth Calder isn’t trying to be the new Perez.
Here are all the burning questions we have after watching Shetland series 8 episode 1…
***Warning: spoilers from Shetland series 8 episode 1 ahead***
Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder, and DI Alison O’Donnell as Tosh McIntosh (Credit: ITV Studios/Kirsty Anderson)
What happened in Shetland series 8 episode 1?
Shetland series 8 started with a bang, quite literally, when a police informant called Remy was shot in the head. He worked as an accountant for a criminal called Cassidy, and had been working with the police to get him sent down.
However, honey-trapper Ellen Quinn knew nothing of this when she flirted with him, drugged him, and stole all his cash – just minutes before Cassidy’s henchmen arrived to kill him.
Ellen, now the only witness to the gruesome murder in London, fled back to her home town of Shetland. And Met detective Ruth Calder was tasked with following her and trying to protect her from the thugs who had killed Remy.
But it’s not a simple job for Ruth. We discovered she was born in Shetland, and hasn’t been back since she was 18. She subsequently teamed up with Tosh on the case, but her prickly attitude won her no friends.
During episode 1, the thugs – led by EastEnders star Don Gilet – followed Ellen to Shetland, desperate to retrieve the money she stole off Remy. Meanwhile, Ellen had the money stolen from her on a bus, and the bodycount rose to three dead bodies, and two dead sheep. RIP.
Questions we have after watching – what is Ruth Calder hiding?
Met detective Ruth Calder returned to Shetland on the trail of a vulnerable witness, and teamed up with Tosh on a case that will test their fragile, new partnership.
On top of the case, Calder was faced with figures from her past and cringed through a chance encounter with ex-boyfriend Cal Innes (played by Jamie Sives). Although she DID manage to find her way into his bed later in the episode!
Even worse was her visit to estranged younger brother Alan, now the minister of their father’s old kirk. It’s clear that the two siblings have starkly different views of their childhood…
So what happened in Ruth’s past that made her leave Shetland and never return? We learn that she “didn’t like her father”, and that she refused to return for his funeral. Ruth also missed her brother’s wedding. Far from happy families, but why? First guess is that she was a bit wilder than her strict Reverend father would have liked…?
Ashley Jensen and Jamie Sives as old flames Ruth and Cal in Shetland (Credit: ITV Studios/Jamie Simpson)
Shetland series 8 episode 1: Who killed Ellen Quinn?
At the end of Shetland series 8, episode 1, DI Ruth Calder and Tosh found Ellen Quinn’s dead body. First assumptions are obviously that Cassidy’s men got to her. But we didn’t actually see them murder her.
And there’s still the matter of the missing money. Will the heavies track down the boy and the missing bag of money? Of course, viewers know that Ellen was carrying the stolen money when she was robbed by a passenger on the bus.
Is he now in danger, too?
Is there a Satanist cult on Shetland?
Before DI Ruth Calder arrived on the scene in Shetland, Tosh was investigating a series of unfortunate and cruel deaths on the island. Someone had been killing sheep by cutting their throats, and marking them with mysterious symbols.
After the spate of sheep slaughters, Toff was forced to consider the fact that there might be Satanists in Shetland. Now that is a Ann Cleeves book I would read!
Douglas Henshall starred as DI Jimmy Perez in Shetland (Credit: BBC One)
Shetland series 8 episode 1: Where’s Jimmy Perez?
Of course, the one question that many viewers might still be asking is ‘where’s Jimmy Perez’? Fans of the show, and loyal ED! readers, will know that Douglas Henshall left the show at the end of series 7.
In early 2022, the now 57-year-old actor revealed the sad news that he was leaving the popular BBC One detective drama. After nearly 10 years on the hit show, he made the decision to say goodbye to his character Jimmy Perez for good.
He made his final appearance on the show in the series 7 finale on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. However, BBC One confirmed the show would go on without the lead character.
What happened in the Shetland series 7 finale?
Series 7 revolved around the disappearance and subsequent death of vulnerable young man Connor Cairns. DI Jimmy Perez investigated who murdered the local man, as well as his girlfriend Bryd Fleming, and outsider Williams Rodgers.
Slowly, Perez and sidekick Tosh discovered the deaths all seemed to be connected to an eco-terrorism unit. In the Shetland series 7 finale, the team raced to identify the killer and prevent disaster striking the town as another bomb threatened to go off. The killer was eventually revealed as militant activist Jamie Narey.
DI Jimmy Perez decided to quit Lerwick Police after becoming weary. Season 7 started with Perez at a tribunal after being arrested at the end of season 6 following the death of Donna Killick.
She had written a letter claiming the detective was planning to cover up her murder which was in fact a suicide. While he walked away with his job intact, the experience left a bad taste in his mouth.
His love interest Meg saw that Perez was always putting his job first, at the expense of his personal life. In a monumental decision, Perez let suspect Lloyd go free – knowing this would spell the end of his job.
Perez became convinced that suspect Lloyd had NOT committed any crime in the States, and decided he would not be complicit in sending him back to the US, where he might face the death penalty.
Basically, Perez did the right thing by saving an innocent man, even though it meant losing his job. Boss Rhona told Perez: “If Lloyd has gone, it’s the end of your career.”
To which Perez replied: “I know, I think it’s worth it. Rhona, I’m done. If the last thing I do is help an innocent man, then I am good with that.”
