This upcoming drama set in the Outer Hebrides and performed in Gaelic is a must-watch when it arrives on BBC iPlayer next week.
Starring some familiar faces as well as plenty of rising stars, this groundbreaking drama is unlike anything you’ve seen before whilst still delivering all the twists and tension you expect from a classic thriller.
Set amongst the sweeping Western Isles of Scotland, a young Family Liaison Officer is assigned a gruesome murder case on Lewis and Harris.
However, she’s also forced to confront the demons of her past as she fled the islands 10 years ago and has history with the murder victim, a local tycoon with a dysfunctional family.
Let’s find out more about the cast before An t-Eilean (The Island) premieres next Tuesday.
Who stars in An t-Eilean?
Sorcha Groundsell – Kat Crichton
Leading the drama is Scottish actress Sorcha Groundsell as the Liaison Officer Kat Crichton.
She’s perhaps most recognisable for portraying Bryd Fleming in three episodes of the fellow Scottish crime drama Shetland back in 2022.
A year later, she starred as Nicola Briggs in the seven-part true crime series The Long Shadow, which starred Toby Jones as the detective in charge of the manhunt for British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe.
Crichton is also known for appearances in Grantchester, His Dark Materials and The Innocents.
Sagar Radia – DCI Ahmed Halim
Sagar Radia portrays Kat’s boss DCI Ahmed Halim in An t-Eilean and will be familiar to fans who have tuned in to the HBO and BBC drama Industry.
He has portrayed the foul-mouthed trader Rishi Ramdani since the series began in 2020, originally taking on a recurring role before being promoted to the main cast for the next two seasons.
Since then he has appeared in the British film Unicorns and was previously known for playing AJ Nair in The Good Karma Hospital on ITV.
Iain Macrae – Douglas Maclean
Scottish actor Iain Macrae portrays Sir Douglas Maclean, the drama’s murder victim with an enigmatic connection to Kat.
He has recently appeared in the latest season of Outlander as Reverend McMillan, as well as Shetland in 2021.
TV fans in Scotland will also know him from the Scottish-Gaelic drama Bannan, appearing as Tormod across eight seasons.
Supporting Cast
Macrae is joined by another former Bannan star in An t-Eilean, with Meredith Brook portraying Sir Douglas’ daughter Sìne.
There’s also another Outlander favourite in the midst, with Sinéad MacInnes taking on the role of Douglas’ other daughter Eilidh after previously portraying Hortense MacNeill in the time-travelling Starz drama.
Douglas also has two grown-up sons, Calum, played by Andrew Macinnes and Ruaraidh, played by Sam James Smith.
Finally, Elspeth Turner will portray Lady Mary, whose role in the series is so far shrouded in mystery.
An t-Eilean premieres Tuesday, January 14th on BBC Alba and BBC iPlayer.