BBC star Ashley Jensen's journey from personal tragedy and new ...

BBC One's Shetland is poised to mesmerise viewers anew with its ninth season, introducing Ashley Jensen as the lead, following Douglas Henshall's iconic role as Jimmy Perez. Ahead of filming, the celebrated actress stated: "The reaction to the last series was incredible and I'm excited at the prospect of unravelling more intrigue."

Jensen has also expressed her fondness for the show’s location: "The Shetland Isles are breathtaking without a doubt one of the most memorable and unique filming locations I've been to. I'm looking forward to jumping on that wee plane again and returning soon."

At 55, Scottish actress Ashley Jensen, known for her roles in successful series like Extras, Ugly Betty, and Agatha Raisin, brings a wealth of experience to the series. Her part in Ugly Betty was originally envisioned as an American character; however, upon hearing Jensen's accent, producers were inspired to rewrite her character, Christina McKinney, as Scottish.

In her personal life, Jensen's heart seems as full as her career; she has been married to two fellow actors, reports note from the Mirror. Her first marriage was to Terence Beesley, whom she met in 1999 while performing in King Lear and who is recognised for his work in Victoria and The Bill.

Later, she tied the knot with Kenny Doughty, famed for his part in Vera. She shares a son, Frankie, with Beesley and made a lifestyle shift from London to Bath, seeking a serene environment for her family, reports the Express.

Looking back on her priorities during a 2013 chat with The Standard, she shared: "I want to focus on being a mum at the moment. He's just had his nativity play and I spent days making a shepherd's costume for him - I was trawling the second-hand shops of Bath and I absolutely loved it."

The star also opened up about past collaborations with her former husband, remarking on their strong working relationship. Sadly, Terence passed away at 60 in his Somerset home in 2017, with an inquest in the following year concluding he had taken his own life.

In a moving statement, Ashley admitted she was "extremely shocked" by the circumstances and proclaimed she "will never forget" the heartbreaking occurrence.

As time moved on, by 2023, Ashley discovered happiness anew, tying the knot with Vera actor Kenny Doughty in what attendees called an "emotional" event. Speculation around their relationship began making the rounds in 2021 after Kenny separated from his prior wife Caroline Carver.

They originally crossed paths on BBC's Extras set and, as stated by the Daily Mail, got hitched at the idyllic Priston Mill near Bath, in the company of their close friends and family. A friend intimately involved in the occasion articulated: "The day looked absolutely beautiful. Ashley looked just so, so happy. She was smiling and laughing, it was simply idyllic. There appeared to be so much love in that room."