The BBC has officially announced that Shetland will be returning for an eleventh series in 2026.
The confirmation arrived via a voiceover as the credits rolled on tonight's series 10 finale.
Wednesday evening’s concluding episode brought the murder investigation of retired social worker Eadie Tulloch to its dramatic end.
Detectives DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and DI Tosh McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell) finally cracked the case after six episodes of twists and slow-burning tension.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
DI Ruth Calder (ASHLEY JENSEN);DI ‘Tosh’ McIntosh (ALISON O’DONNELL) on set of Shetland
| BBCTulloch, portrayed by Maria MacDonnell, had been discovered dead outside her home in the remote hamlet of Lunniswick, left exposed to the elements for several days before a neighbour found her while delivering food.
Viewer reaction on social media proved sharply divided following the reveal, with many left frustrated by the conclusion.
One viewer on X branded the finale “ridiculous", while another said the investigation had gone “all around the houses for the obvious answer all along".
Others described the episode as “weak,” criticising the dialogue, score and tone as too “dark".
Hayley Burnett (SASKIA ASHDOWN);Chris Burnett (GABRIEL AKUWUDIKE) on set of BBC Shetland
|BBC
“Poorly acted, s**** storyline and god awful dialogue #shetland,” one disappointed fan wrote, while another said: “This is all a bit silly #Shetland.”
Some questioned the production itself: “Is the picture very dim or is it my tv? #Shetland", one viewer asked.
But the reaction was not universally negative. Some viewers praised the series, with one writing: “Good series. I wonder if this will be the last one."
Others hailed it as a “truly gripping series".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
BBC Shetland: Douglas Henshall as Jimmy Perez | BBC Fans also celebrated the partnership between the two leads.
“Love the relationship between Tosh and Ruth… Another fab series of #Shetland. Looking forward to its return next year!”
Another viewer added: “I really enjoyed it! Little confused near the end but understood once it was said out loud… Great series and look forward to its return next year!”
Despite tonight’s news, the show's leading actresses had previously suggested they were unaware of any plans for another series.
Speaking to Radio Times, Ms Jensen admitted she had “no idea” whether the drama would return, while Ms O’Donnell said they couldn’t “reveal” anything.
Ms Jensen added that she and her co-star were the “wrong people for any of these questions,” saying: “I have no idea, and I expect nothing… You’ve got to just live in the moment and be present and not worry… if there’s going to be season 11.”
Throughout the six-part investigation, viewers watched Calder and Tosh uncover hidden money, buried secrets and a trail of drug-related issues linked to Tulloch’s former career.
Suspicion fell repeatedly on residents across the tight-knit Lunniswick community, with her estranged son Ed Tulloch (Stuart Townsend) emerging as an early suspect.
BBC Shetland will return for series 11 in 2026
|BBC
Shetland continues to be one of the BBC’s most reliable performers.
Recent series have attracted more than 5 million viewers each, although numbers have dipped since the 7 million peak in 2021.
Broadcast Now reported that the latest series had a “strong launch,” though consolidated figures have not yet been released.
In Scotland, it ranked as the second most-watched drama of the year across all channels and streaming platforms, behind only Happy Valley.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter