Series 7, which starts on BBC One on Wednesday the 10th of August at 9pm, promises to tie up Perez’s loose ends and follow up on last series’ will-they-won’t-they frisson with Irish carer Meg. Before Perez says his final goodbye to the evidence board though, there’s a missing person case to solve, and a host of new characters to interrogate. Here’s who he’ll be meeting…
Shauna Macdonald as Rachel Cairns
Rachel Cairns is the mother of Connor and Abbey, and a relative newcomer to Shetland. She and her husband Danny run the Noss View guest house, a B&B they bought in order to get a fresh start in a remote, rural community. Rachel is played by Shauna Macdonald, and you might recognise her as Sam Buxton in Spooks, Sarah in Neil Marshall’s acclaimed horror The Descent, the voice of Professor Squawkencluck in the Danger Mouse reboot, as well as roles in Outlander, The Scotts and Scottish BBC drama The Nest.
Andrew Whipp as Danny Cairns
Father to Connor and Abbey, and husband of Rachel, Danny Cairns lives at the guest house and has a troubled relationship with his son. He’s played by former Emmerdale actor Andrew Whipp, who’s also popped up in Outlander, Netflix’s fantasy series Cursed, Starz miniseries The White Princess, Vera, Death in Paradise and more.
Sorcha Groundsell as Bryd Fleming
Girlfriend to Connor, Sorcha is a wild swimmer and a house parent in the high school halls of residence where Connor’s younger sister Abbey lives. She’s played by Sorcha Groundsell, who starred opposite Nicholas Nunn in Clique, and played the joint lead in Netflix’s supernatural drama The Innocents. Groundsell has also appeared in Irvine Welsh adaptation Crime, Grantchester and more.
Patrick Robinson as Lloyd Anderson
Lloyd Anderson is an American artist on Shetland, and was Connor’s drawing tutor. He’s played by Patrick Robinson, a familiar face on UK television with long-running roles as DC Jacob Banks on The Bill, and Ash in Casualty. Robinson played the lead in standalone BBC drama Sitting in Limbo and recently joined the cast of The Last Kingdom for its fifth and final season.
Ladi Emeruwa as Martin Otina
Photographer Martin is a guest at the Noss View B&B run by the Cairns family, and the only one who stays on after Connor’s disappearance. He’s played by Ladi Emeruwa, who’s had previous roles in Berlin Station, Chimerica and Riviera.
Laurie Brett as Alison Woods
Alison Woods joins the missing persons search and takes up wild swimming in Shetland Series 7. She’s played by Scottish actor Laurie Brett, who’s best recognised for the long-running role of Jane Beale in BBC soap EastEnders, and of Christine in school drama Waterloo Road. Brett recently appeared in Scottish forensics drama Traces and starred opposite David Tennant in excellent domestic drama Deadwater Fell.
ALSO JOINING THE CAST
Lauren Conroy as Connor’s younger sister Abbey Cairns, Alexandra Finnie as Abbey’s schoolfriend Clana, Gregg Flett as fisherman and Bryd’s father Keith Fleming, Anthony Strachan as fisherman Ally Flett, Grant O’Rourke as publisher Jamie Narey, Paula Turner as waste management company owner Sheena Davidson, Stuart McQuarrie as librarian Murray Rankin, Gordon Brown and Dawn Sievewright as Cameron and his daughter Nicole, a couple of holidaymakers touring Shetland in a motorhome. Shetland Series 7 airs weekly on BBC One and iPlayer starting Wednesday August 10th at 9pm.
