Shetland favourite Alison O’Donnell reveals “Dark Tosh” storyline — and her partner’s nervous reaction

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The new season of Shetland offers the familiar elements fans love – a murder mystery, secretive islanders, and dramatic scenery – but stars Alison O’Donnell and Ashley Jensen hint at a surprising shift in the dynamic between the characters Tosh and Calder.

In Season 10, the detectives will investigate the unsettling murder of an older woman, according to an official description.

In the remote village of Lunniswick, the body of Eadie Tulloch, a recently retired social worker, was discovered after being exposed to the weather for several days. Detectives Calder and Tosh suspect the villagers are concealing information about their connections to Eadie and start to investigate a complex network of secrets and deception.

Things get really complicated when one of us on the team discovers a personal connection to the case. It really puts our loyalty to the test, and honestly, it’s heartbreaking to watch. It makes you wonder how far we’ll go for each other, and for the truth.

Tosh increasingly takes charge and becomes more assertive, confidently establishing how things will proceed as the season progresses. Meanwhile, we also see a gentler, more empathetic side of Calder.

O’Donnell chuckled, explaining, “I used to playfully call her ‘Dark Tosh.’ Around episode 5, it really clicked for me – that’s when I realized her storyline was a ‘Dark Tosh’ journey.”

I’ve been fortunate to work on many interesting stories, but this one showed a completely new side of my character, which was thrilling. I was a little nervous about it, though. When I told my partner about the storyline, he was concerned and wasn’t sure how it would go over.

That’s when I realized we were on the right track. It’s important to avoid becoming complacent or letting the show become stale. We needed to keep innovating and trying new things, and I quickly felt confident about that.

O’Donnell was careful to emphasize that everything on the show happens for a reason—the drama isn’t random, and there’s always a backstory.

She explained that the problems with the show are becoming apparent, and these issues also exist in the original books, which naturally influence the characters and the story’s origins.

You consistently see the human side of things—you recognize that people are flawed, facing challenges, and make mistakes. While their actions might be wrong, you understand the reasons behind them, and can relate it to your own experiences.

Jensen agreed, explaining that it’s important to see everyone as imperfect people who sometimes make mistakes, say the wrong thing, or act in ways they later regret – people who occasionally stumble or lose their composure.

“And I think that you’re seeing quite a lot of these characters out of their comfort zone.”

Returning alongside O’Donnell and Jensen are series stars Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson, Lewis Howden as Sgt Billy McCabe, Anne Kidd as pathologist Cora McLean, Angus Miller as Donnie, Conor McCarry as PC Alex Grant, and Eubha Akilade as PC Lorna Burns.

Samuel Anderson, known for his roles in ‘Back to Black’ and ‘Amandaland’, will be joining the show as Matt Blake, the new Procurator Fiscal.

This season features guest appearances by Clive Russell (known for The Witcher), Ellie Haddington (Motherland), Niall MacGregor (The Bombing of Pan AM 103), Greg McHugh (Guilt), Frances Gray (Vera), Louise Brealey (Such Brave Girls), Stuart Townsend (Into The Deep), and Stephen McMillan (Toxic Town).

The tenth season of Shetland begins airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Wednesday, November 5th. You can stream the first nine seasons on iPlayer right now. And if you enjoy the show, Ann Cleeves’s original Shetland novels are available for purchase.

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2025-11-04 15:37