The mystery in the remote village of Lunniswick is about to reach its end. The sixth and final episode of Shetland Season 10 will air on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. The episode is the last chapter of a season that has tested the loyalty of its main characters and uncovered dark secrets connecting a decades-old storm, a hidden dr*g ring, and the murder of an elderly woman.
The finale will air at its usual time, 9 p.m. in the United Kingdom on BBC One. For viewers watching from abroad, the episode will be available to stream at the same time on BBC iPlayer, though this requires a UK TV license and may need a VPN for access from other countries. The full season has featured weekly episode releases rather than a full drop, making the finale the long-awaited conclusion to a story that has built over five weeks.
Release Time Around The World
For international fans who have followed the season, the finale will be available at these local times. These are based on the simultaneous release on BBC iPlayer alongside the TV broadcast.
- United Kingdom: Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00 p.m. (GMT)
- United States (East Coast): Wednesday, December 10 at 4:00 p.m. (EST)
- Central Europe: Wednesday, December 10 at 10:00 p.m. (CET)
- India: Thursday, December 11 at 2:30 a.m. (IST)
- Australia (East Coast): Thursday, December 11 at 8:00 a.m. (AEST)
Where To Watch The Shetland Season 10 Finale
The primary home for the show in the UK is BBC iPlayer, where all episodes of Season 10, including the finale, will be available to watch. Viewers can also catch the broadcast on BBC One at 9 p.m..
For fans in the United States and other international regions, the official streaming release for Season 10 has not been confirmed at this time. Past seasons of the show have typically become available on platforms like BritBox and PBS Masterpiece after the UK run is complete. A formal announcement for Season 10’s international release is expected in the coming weeks, likely for early 2026.
The Full Cast Returning For The Finale
The finale episode will feature the core cast of detectives and the key guest stars involved in the Lunniswick case. According to the official BBC credits, viewers can expect to see:
- Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder
- Alison O’Donnell as DI Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh
- Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson
- Lewis Howden as Sgt. Billy McCabe
The guest cast includes several figures central to the murder mystery, such as Stuart Townsend as Ed Tulloch, Clive Russell as Arthur Mair, and Ellie Haddington as Lana Mair. The episode is directed by Ruth Carney and written by Paul Logue, based on characters created by author Ann Cleeves.
How The Last Episode Set Up The Finale
Episode 5 delivered major revelations that changed the direction of the entire investigation. After evidence linked him to the victim’s husband, Sergeant Billy McCabe made a devastating confession to Tosh. He revealed that during the historic storm that claimed Robert Tulloch’s son twenty years ago, he and Robert discovered a washed-up boat filled with a large amount of heroin. Robert promised to dispose of it, but Billy later received a £10,000 “loan” from him, leading Billy to believe he unintentionally helped start a dr*g ring on the islands. This personal betrayal left Tosh deeply shaken.
A parallel investigation led by DC Sandy also took a significant step. He located Lewis Mitchell, the last person to call informant Will Louden before his overdose. Mitchell promised to give Sandy the name of the person running the drg operation. Separately, in a moment loaded with meaning, DI Ruth Calder was seen with Ed Tulloch, the victim’s son, as he used a distinctive knot to secure a gate during a storm—the same type of knot found on the rope used to kll his mother.
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What To Expect From The Season 10 Finale
The official synopsis for Episode 6 is brief but points toward a tense resolution: “As Calder and Tosh get closer to understanding why Eadie was killed, fewer suspects remain”. This suggests the separate investigations into Eadie Tulloch’s murder and the local dr*g ring will finally collide, forcing the detectives to focus on a small group of remaining suspects.
“The way they finally collided – with pace, clarity, and a real sting in the tail – made for a good job.” – Review of Episode 5
The key questions for the finale involve the personal connections at the heart of the case. Tosh must decide how to handle Billy’s confession and its implications for both their friendship and the murder investigation. Calder must confront the growing evidence linking Ed Tulloch to the crime. The finale promises to close the chapter on the haunting Lunniswick mystery that has defined the tenth season.
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