Shetland’s very own Lewis Howden, a familiar face in the BBC drama since its inception, isn’t the only famous star in his family .
As season nine unfolds, with DI Ruth Calder (played by Ashley Jensen) still settling in, many characters have been constants since Shetland first aired in 2013.
One such character is the dependable and seasoned police sergeant Billy McCabe, brought to life by actor Lewis Howden, known for his roles in Taggart and Hope Springs.
Despite Lewis Howden’s preference for privacy regarding his personal life, there are some fascinating details about his family worth noting.
Kathryn Howden
His sister, Kathryn Howden, is also an actress, celebrated for her role as Maggie McLean in the BBC Scottish soap opera River City, where she has been a fixture since 2017.
Kathryn’s portrayal of Maggie, a character who has faced alcoholism, sexual assault, and cancer, has won her acclaim.
Kathryn’s other acting credits include appearances in Taggart, Pramface, Silent Witness, Outlander, Six Four, and Murder Is Easy.
In an interview with Edinburgh News, she shared her lifelong passion for acting: “This is all I have ever wanted to do. I never thought I would do anything else.
“My mum said I wanted to be an actress from when I was three-years-old, but I was really shy when I was wee.
“Mum said, ‘You used to come up with wee plays for yourself but you wouldn’t do them in front of anybody.'”
Alex “Happy” Howden
Lewis and Kathryn were raised in the midst of the entertainment industry, being the offspring of comedian and actor Alex ‘Happy’ Howden.
After dropping out of school at 15, Alex took on various jobs, including whaling, scaffolding, and driving a bus, all while attempting to kickstart his stand-up comedy career.
Years later, he transitioned into acting, landing roles in notable films and TV shows such as Rab C Nesbitt, Monarch Of The Glen, The Acid House, Strictly Sinatra, and A Shot At Glory.
Notably, he played a hangman in Martin Scorsese’s 2002 epic Gangs Of New York, sharing the screen with Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Upon his passing in 2015 at the age of 76, Alex received an outpouring of tributes, including a heartfelt message from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, who wrote: “Very sad to hear about the death of Alex ‘Happy’ Howden.
“One of the nicest and funniest people it’s been my privilege to know.”
Shetland is available to watch every Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.