On Wednesday night, a new series of Shetland kicked off on BBC One as viewers were taken to the remote village of Lunniswick.
Tianna Corbin TV Reporter
21:45, 05 Nov 2025
Tensions were at an all-time high on Wednesday night as DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and DS Lorna Tosh McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell) took on a sinister case in a brand-new series of Shetland.
However, before they were called to Lunniswick to investigate the gruesome murder of an elderly lady, the BBC show kicked off with Calder and Tosh in the car, waiting to do a suspected drug bust.
While they were catching up about their lives, viewers learnt that there was a young man in the back of the vehicle who had given them information about something ‘coming in’ on a boat in the fish room.
Sharing that a man called Callaghan was most likely bringing in other stuff for them to seize, it was clear he was uncomfortable with being so close to the operation, highlighting that Calder had told him there would be no risk for him.
The BBC show kicked off with Calder and Tosh trying to intercept a drug operation(Image: BBC)READ MORE: Shetland’s Ruth Calder star pays heartfelt tribute as she ‘welcomes new faces’ to BBC seriesREAD MORE: Shetland’s Tosh star pays tribute to Ashley Jensen as they detail on-set bond
Telling the two detectives that he couldn’t be there when they were making arrests, fearing for his family, Sandy Wilson (Steven Robertson) radioed in to inform them that the boat was coming in.
Getting out of the car to try to intercept the drug bust, both Tosh and Calder left the car in pursuit of the criminal. However, when they were on board, they didn’t discover anything other than fish.
When Calder returned to the car, she discovered her informant had fled the scene, leaving many people on X to share their thoughts on the huge blunder.
Shetland viewers were quick to call out the blunder on Wednesday night(Image: BBC)
One person said: Shetland off to a realistic start. Why didn’t someone stay with him if it was that important?”
In agreement, another replied: “That’s what I was thinking! Why did they leave him unattended!?”
Someone else wrote: “Bit dumb thinking he would stay in the car.” While another viewer added, “Hope someone’s going to pick all that fish back up.”
Despite the slightly unrealistic error, viewers were thrilled that the BBC crime drama had returned, as one fan praised: “Brilliant programme and cast/crew.”
One person said, “Shetland being back tonight is the best thing about this sh***y time of year.” While another wrote: “Shetland is back – normal service has resumed.”
However, it seems as though aside from a drug bust gone wrong, the duo have more serious problems at hand after being called to help investigate the murder of Eadie Tulloch, who was discovered around the back of her home, facing the sea, tied up.
Calder and Tosh are tasked with finding the person responsible for a sinister murder of an elderly lady(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie Simpson)
A synopsis for series 10 reads: “In the isolated hamlet of Lunniswick, the body of the retired social worker Eadie Tulloch has been out in the elements for a number of days. A picture of loneliness begins to emerge as Eadie had not spoken to her son Ed in years.
“Old friend Arthur Mair is too busy caring for his ailing wife Lana, while their house is full with daughter Isobel, her struggling husband Tom, and their heavily pregnant teenager, Jess, having recently moved in.
“Attentive local Colin Waite turns Calder and Tosh’s focus to David Powell, an anxious, young neighbour with a troubled past. His overly protective mum, Gina, blocks all questions while trying to figure out what her son is hiding.
“Suspecting the residents of Lunniswick are holding back about their relationships with Eadie, Calder and Tosh begin to unravel a complicated web of lies. Worse still, there’s a personal link to the case for one of the team, testing loyalty to the limits.”
Shetland returns for a tenth series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Wednesday 5 November 2025.