BBC Shetland fans left distracted minutes into new series over 'unusual' show change

Shetland viewers were left distracted during the first instalment of series nine on Wednesday night over an 'unusual' change minutes into the episode.

During the opening episode, it started with DI Ruth Calder, played by Ashley Jensen, talking to a jittery young man called Malcolm Kidd, played by Stuart Campbell, who was menacingly holding a shotgun and demanding to see a woman called Eleanor Douglas.

In a harrowing twist, it was soon revealed that his brother's dead body was on the floor between them after Malcolm shot him dead. Thankfully, DI 'Tosh' McIntosh, played by Alison O'Donnell, and the rest of the gang were waiting outside. The episode started with Ruth chatting to the young man before a struggle for the gun started and a shot rang up - it then went straight into the opening credits, reports .

Taking to , now X, viewers were quick to comment on the 'unusual' start as one person said: "This is a really unusual opening for #Shetland. Wonder if we’re going to go back in time", a different account wrote: "That was one hell of a long start #Shetland", another put: "Opening credits after ten minutes #Shetland", a different fan said: "Well that's some opening, right into a mad scene #Shetland" while a different viewer added: "An interesting opening for Shetland tonight #Shetland."

Later in the episode, Ruth, who was thankfully okay after the gun struggle, spoke to Eleanor, played by Christina Gordon, who was engaged to Malcolm with the latter being held in custody. Ruth was confused about Malcolm's motive to kill his own brother and after talking to Eleanor she admitted she had been having an affair with her brother-in-law.

However, the drama was far from over as later that night Tosh attended her friend’s birthday party and witnessed the argument of two married friends, Annie and Ian Bett, played by Sarah MacGillivray and Robert Jack. Later, their son Noah (Jacob Ferguson), nine, told Tosh his parents were separating and she noticed their frosty behaviour.

Before leaving, Annie arranged a meeting with Tosh the next morning as she wanted to speak to her about something important. Annie and Noah were staying with John Harris (Vincent Regan), a mussel farmer, and his sons, but when Tosh arrived the next morning there was no sign of Annie, Noah or her car.

After failing to get in touch, Tosh decided to look for her friend along with Ruth where things took a worrying turn with Noah showing up alone covered in someone else's blood. The duo managed to locate Annie's car where they found her dead body inside a nearby building in a harrowing turn of events.

They also found another body, which wasn't Ian's in a shock twist as the man's French ID revealed he was called Anton Bergen. Who is Anton, what's happened to Annie and where is her estranged husband Ian?

Shetland continues on Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.