Shetland actor Mark Bonnar is one of the many stars competing in the new celebrity spin-off of BBC The Traitors
Shetland actor Mark Bonnar(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Mark Bonnar is best recognised for portraying Cassie’s biological father Duncan Hunter across seven series of Shetland.
The actor, 56, featured in the hit BBC show from the very beginning but he decided to leave at the end of season seven because he was moving on to other roles.
At the end of series six Shetland viewers saw Jimmy Perez and Duncan in deep trouble for their roles in the death of Donna Killick.
Donna had cancer and asked Duncan to help her die by suicide and he agreed, however it was all part of Donna’s plan to gain revenge on Duncan, who she believed had betrayed her after an affair many years ago.
She sent a letter to her lawyer claiming that Duncan had pressured her into taking her own life.
Mark Bonnar is best recognised for portraying Duncan Hunter in Shetland
(Image: (Image: BBC))
To make things worse, Donna also claimed that Jimmy was involved in her death. Duncan decided to hand himself in after learning about the letter. The situation wasn’t much better for Jimmy either, with the detective also arrested.
Fast forward to series seven, Jimmy’s suspension from the force was overturned and he resumed his duties before his exit from the show.
However it wasn’t good news for fans as Duncan revealed that he won’t be returning to Shetland following his release from prison as he wanted to start a new life.
“There’s plenty that think I let Donna off the hook,” he told him candidly, resigned to uprooting his life and starting afresh.
Duncan revealed that he won’t be returning to Shetland following his release from prison(Image: BBC/ITV Studios/Mark Mainz)
Following his exit, Mark appeared on ITV’s Lorraine and the host asked whether or not he believes that viewers have seen the last of Duncan Hunter.
Mark replied: “Possibly, yes it’s all changed, Ashley is starting. She’s taking over from Doug which I think is great, great casting love Ashley.”
Speaking about the long-running BBC drama, the 54-year-old told Lorraine he loved Shetland which he starred in for a decade.
He continued: “It was a huge part of my life for 10 years and a great joy to do. Pastures new it’s very exciting to see what Davy and the rest of the team come up with.”
Mark is now competing in the new celebrity spin-off of BBC Traitors(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
The actor is now competing in the new celebrity spin-off of BBC Traitors alongside household names like Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, and Kate Garraway.
Speaking about his experience, he recently said: “It’s so intense — you have no phone, so all you think about is the show.
“The line-up was pretty starry. Stephen Fry has been omnipresent in my life – I watched Blackadder growing up – and I loved chatting to Jonathan Ross about Nirvana.”
Mark went on to reveal to The Sunday Times that the cast are all now part of a WhatsApp group as he explained: “It’s mad being in a Traitors WhatsApp group with them all.”
You can catch up on Shetland on BBC iPlayer
