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The countdown is on for the return of Shetland as BBC audiences eagerly await the comeback of DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and DS Lorna Tosh McIntosh (Alison O'Donnell). The BBC dropped a tantalising glimpse earlier this month of what lies ahead, with the pair of female detectives summoned to an isolated village after the chilling killing of an elderly woman. Speaking ahead of next month's premiere, actress Alison O'Donnell has praised her partnership with Ashley, revealing the connection they've formed since Ashley's arrival on the show in 2022. Discussing how they maintain their rapport off-camera, Alison remarked: "I think our chemistry was pretty instant. "The first few weeks, I remember trying to find my feet, because obviously, I had been doing the show for a long time. "I had got into a very established rhythm, and then when everything changed, I remember for about two or three weeks, I just felt like, 'Oh, what's happening? I'm not sure what anything is'. Ashley pointed out how she reckons the transition proved more challenging for Alison, something the BBC actress acknowledged, reports the Daily Record . She continued: "But then, after a few weeks, it just became so clear to me that you're the truest collaborator. Ashley just came in with a totally open heart. It was such a brilliant combination of being so open but bringing all of her own ideas and her experience to it as well. "I remember just going, 'Oh, this is actually just a total pleasure.' And I haven't looked back from that point, and I don't feel like we need to try. It's just there." The actress shared how in sync they are with each other, revealing how their values and approach to balancing work and life align perfectly. Alison added: "I can talk to Ashley about all that stuff, and she totally gets where I'm coming from, and I get where you're coming from. So that's a lovely element as well, that we have." A synopsis for the upcoming series teases that loyalty will be tested within the team, as one of them has a personal connection to the case they are working on. It reads: "As Calder and Tosh are drawn to a remote village following the sinister murder of an elderly woman. As they begin to unravel life in this close-knit community, shocking, long-buried secrets rise to the surface with unexpected consequences for all – including the team. "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. "Suspecting the residents 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 will return on November 5, with the first nine series currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
