BBC announce Scottish sci-fi thriller Sutherland
The BBC has revealed Sutherland, a brand-new sci-fi thriller set between Scotland and space. The series is produced by World Productions Scotland—part of ITV Studios—and created and written by James Smythe for BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and BBC Scotland.
The six-episode drama features Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Stuart Martin, and Iain De Caestecker in leading roles.
Set in the far north of Scotland in the near future, the story follows Mirren, a flight director at Paravel Space Hub overseeing the UK’s first crewed mission into space. What begins as a smooth launch quickly takes a turn when strange and unexplained incidents plunge Sutherland into chaos, threatening everything Mirren has worked toward.
As a long-buried conspiracy begins to emerge, local detective Logan is drawn back into Mirren’s world. When both the investigation and the space mission start to fall apart, the two must work together, leading to a discovery that will have lasting consequences for them both.
Smythe describes the series as a story rooted in love, loss, and discovery, exploring humanity’s urge to understand both the universe above and the world around us. He also highlights the opportunity to create the show for the BBC alongside World Productions, the cast, and directors as a major milestone.
Executive producer Jake Lushington characterises the drama as a thought-provoking exploration of life, love, and space, set against the backdrop of northern Scotland. He notes that the series raises timely questions about the value of space exploration in a world already facing significant challenges.
BBC commissioning editor Gaynor Holmes emphasises the show’s originality and its blend of science fiction with the Scottish Highlands, expressing excitement about audiences connecting with the central characters and their unpredictable journey.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, highlights the project as another strong collaboration with World Productions, describing it as a compelling and atmospheric drama that showcases Scotland in a new light.
Sutherland joins an expanding slate of BBC dramas produced in Scotland, alongside titles such as Half Man, Counsels, Grams, The Young Team, and returning series including Shetland, Rebus, Vigil, and Granite Harbour.