Douglas Henshall on his decision to quit BBC murder mystery Shetland
The show is expected to return for an eighth series in 2023 with a new lead.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Douglas Henshall has said it will feel “weird” knowing BBC murder mystery drama Shetland is shooting without him, but that he feels “very comfortable” with his decision to leave the show.
The Glasgow-born actor said he had departed the series partly because he did not want to “keep coming back and taking the pay cheque” when he knew his role should be coming to an end.
Henshall debuted in the role of DI Jimmy Perez on BBC One in 2013 in the first TV adaptation of the award-winning novels by crime writer Ann Cleeves.
The upcoming seventh series, which begins on August 10, will be his last.
He told Radio Times: “After we’d done series five, I had a conversation with (writer) David Kane, asking how many series we had left in us.
“We thought if we could get two more series, we could probably wrap up Perez’s story and wrap up the show in a way that was satisfactory for both us and the audience.”
Asked whether it was an easy decision, he said: “Not at all, but it was preferable to being told that we were not going to do it any more because it had run its course.
“Nor did I want to keep coming back and taking the pay cheque. I feel very comfortable with the decision I made.”
Despite Henshall’s departure, the show is expected to return for an eighth series in 2023, with a new lead to be announced in due course.
He admitted it would not be easy knowing the show would continue without him.
He said: “It will be weird knowing they’re shooting an eighth series and I’m not there. But I’m not sure what the show is going to be.
“I hope it works out and I wish them every success, but it isn’t going to be the show I was in. They will have to make a whole other show.”
Read the full interview in Radio Times, out now.