Set in the Shetland Isles, the two-part drama is written by David Kane (Taggart, Rebus) and adapted from the series of books by award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves.

Executive producer Elaine Collins commented: “We are delighted to be working with the BBC on this commission. Shetland combines eccentric yet warm characters and a classic murder mystery story with the beautiful landscape and rich history of the Shetland Islands and we believe it will be hugely popular with viewers.”

Shetland stars Henshall as Detective Jimmy Perez, “a native Shetlander who has returned home after a long spell away”.

The official synopsis reads: “Recently widowed Perez possesses a bone dry sense of humour and an idealistic desire to protect his beloved Shetland Isles from inevitable change, making him a fascinating detective to watch at work.

“When a young archaeologist discovers a set of human remains, the island community is intrigued to know if it’s an ancient find or a contemporary mystery. And when an elderly woman is shot on her land in a tragic accident, Perez and his team find themselves at the centre of two feuding families whose envy, greed and bitterness has divided the surrounding community.”

Directed by Peter Hoar (Silk, Five Days), Shetland will be filmed on location in Scotland and will air later this year.

Do you like the sound of Shetland? Let us know below…