'Phone sex, drug raids and alfresco corpses. It’s all go in Shetland'

Phone sex, drug raids and alfresco corpses. It’s all go in Shetland

By Alison Rowat

Alison Rowat takes a sharp look at the week’s television highlights and misfires, from the gripping return of Shetland to new celebrity challenges and football nostalgia.

Television Highlights

The week opened with farewells and introductions: “Cheerio, then, Celebrity Traitors” on BBC One, and a warm welcome to “Celebrity Race Across the World” on the same channel. The BBC seems to be running its own one-in, one-out policy. Unlike the first show, the latter had many viewers wondering who the contestants even were.

The Return of Shetland

No such confusion surrounded the ever-reliable Shetland (BBC One, Wednesday). In its 10th season, detectives Tosh and Calder, played by Alison O’Donnell and Ashley Jensen, opened the series investigating a fishing boat suspected of carrying drugs. No sooner had they wrapped up that case when another grim call came through—about a dead woman found in the quiet village of Lunnswick.

“Retired social worker Eadie Tulloch was left outside her home for days, tethered to a post. Inside, there were no signs of struggle. It was as if,” said Calder, “she was led out meekly, like an animal to slaughter.”

Adding to the intrigue, a new crown fiscal, Matt, portrayed by Samuel Anderson, made his debut. His ambition was clear, though his loose talk about troubles in his long-distance relationship with an Edinburgh partner hinted at personal weaknesses.

Other Notable Mentions

A new documentary on football icon Kenny Dalglish.
The much-anticipated Bake Off final.
And the military-themed drama The Troops.

Altogether, it was a week of familiar faces, new tensions, and stories that kept audiences equally entertained and unsettled.

Author’s Summary

Shetland’s newest chapter brings mystery, moral tension, and quiet menace, while the rest of the TV week swayed between charming nostalgia and celebrity confusion.

The Herald — 2025-11-09