Shetland star Ashley Jensen on why she owes it all to Ricky Gervais
Shetland may be the setting for one of our bleakest crime dramas, but for new cast member Ashley Jensen, filming alongside killer whales, puffins and seals was a magical experience. In the upcoming eighth series of the show, Ashley joins as DI Ruth Calder, who will be teaming up with DS Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh, played by Alison O’Donnell.The change follows the departure of Douglas Henshall and Mark Bonnar, who played DI Jimmy Perez and criminal Duncan Hunter. “Every day we’d be like, ‘Are we going to see an orca today?’” says Ashley.