THE cast of the first-ever high-end Gaelic drama series has been revealed by the BBC.
An t-Eilean (The Island) is a murder mystery set in Lewis and Harris and will combine Gaelic with English.
The four-part series follows character Kat Crichton and her investigation into the murder of the wife of "a local tycoon at a remote island mansion".
Sorcha Groundsell, who appeared in Shetland, plays the lead and stars alongside Sagar Radia, who plays her boss DCI Ahmed Halim.
The show is set to air in early 2025 on BBC ALBA, BBC iPlayer and BBC Four.
Iain Macrae stars as Sir Douglas, the head of the wealthy – but deeply dysfunctional – Maclean family.
Having been wounded in the attack that killed his wife, Lady Mary (played by Elspeth Turner), mystery surrounds whether the self-made millionaire is somehow implicated.
Joining the cast as the four grown Maclean children are Sinéad MacInnes as Eilidh, Andrew Macinnes as Calum, Meredith Brook as Sìne, and Sam James Smith as Ruaraidh.
Other cast members include Daibhidh Walker; Sharyn Ferguson, Carina MacLeod, Tormod Macleòid, MJ Deans, Iain Mackay and Julia Taudevin.
Groundsell said: “This feels like a watershed moment for Gaelic. Across the world, we are seeing indigenous languages step confidently out from the shadows to enjoy the recognition they deserve.
"I see our show as part of that wider movement; a celebration of all that makes us unique.”
She added: “Working on An t-Eilean has been a privilege and a joy. I’m so proud to have been part of a production that is pioneering these new horizons for Gaelic and showcasing the beauty, creativity and depth our language brings to the world.”
Radia added: “Being part of An t-Eilean has been an exciting experience for me. The show really allowed us to showcase the beauty of Gaelic culture and language in a way that feels authentic – it’s about bringing the islands' rich history to life for viewers, and I’m so proud to be part of that."
Details on when the show will be broadcast are yet to be released.
