Shetland actor Billy McCabe shares 'exciting' update ahead of new BBC series
Shetland actor Lewis Howden plays the crime drama's sergeant Billy McCabe, who steps out of his comfort zone in the latest series of the popular BBC drama
Shetland's Lewis Howden has teased that his character is set to become "embroiled" in the drama in the new series of the show.
The actor has been playing sergeant Billy McCabe since season one of the hit BBC murder mystery series, which follows police investigating crimes in Shetland.
He is finally set for a more central role in the upcoming 10th season, which meant he also got to join the rest of the cast on Shetland instead of shooting his scenes in a studio.
Speaking on ITV's Lorraine on Monday (November 3), Lewis admitted it was an "exciting" development.
He told host Lorraine Kelly he previously only shot one scene in Shetland, where Billy was having a cup of tea outside the police station.
"It was a joy," he said of filming the latest episodes. "You get to bond like everybody has done for 13 years apart from me, parties and that. And also just to wander around the islands."
"We find out he has a wife," he said of his alter ego.
"And he has got the best house in the whole of Shetland... It has got seals in the back garden. I'm not even kidding, honestly. You just go there and you just think, I actually really want to live here in real life."
Lorraine said it was good to see Billy getting more to do, and the actor replied: "Different to do, so I'd say, rather than more to do necessarily. But it's, yes, it's really exciting."
Teasing that he didn't want to give too much away, he said Billy was "embroiled" in the story in the new series. "He's out of his comfort zone," he added.
The new series of Shetland will see Detective Inspector Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and Detective Inspector Alison "Tosh" McIntosh (Alison O'Donnell) investigating in the remote village of Lunniswick following the murder of a retired social worker named Eadie Tulloch, who used to work with Billy's wife.
Tosh star Alison also recently weighed in on the changes for Billy, saying it was great to see Lewis take a more prominent role as he had been an "untapped resource".
"Having Lewis come to the fore was nothing but a pleasure," said the actress.
"He has won over the hearts of our audience with his nuanced performance, his steady hand and stylish beard. It was time! He has been an untapped resource for so long and he is such an exceptional actor so we were all really excited, me especially as we had so many great scenes together."
Shetland returns on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Wednesday November 5
Lorraine airs on ITV on weekdays from 9am