Lewis Howden: The Actor Behind Shetland’s Billy McCabe
From Scottish theatre stages to the long-running BBC crime drama Shetland, Lewis Howden has built a screen and stage career stretching across decades.
Introduction
Lewis Howden is a Scottish actor best known for playing Billy McCabe in the BBC crime drama Shetland.
It is his most familiar role. But it is only one part of his work.
Howden trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and has worked across television, film and theatre. His professional credits include Annika, Hope Springs, Taggart, Rebus, Monarch of the Glen and a long list of Scottish stage productions.
Right now, his connection with Shetland continues. Lewis Howden is confirmed to return as Billy McCabe in series 11, with filming beginning in 2026.
Quick Facts About Lewis Howden
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full professional name | Lewis Howden |
| Profession | Actor |
| Known for | Playing Billy McCabe in Shetland |
| Training | Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
| Major TV work | Shetland, Annika, Hope Springs, Taggart, Rebus, Monarch of the Glen |
| Theatre work | National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep, Traverse Theatre, Royal Lyceum, Òran Mór and others |
| Current confirmed work | Returning as Billy McCabe in Shetland series 11 |
| Professional representation | AHA Talent |
Who Is Lewis Howden?
Lewis Howden is a Scottish stage and screen actor.
For many viewers, though, one character comes first: Billy McCabe.
Billy is part of the police team in Shetland. Howden has stayed closely tied to the series through its long run, appearing alongside different lead detectives as the programme changed over the years.
His career goes much further back.
Howden’s agency CV lists work across major Scottish theatres, television dramas and films. That mix matters because his career was already well established before Shetland became his most recognised television job.
Lewis Howden’s Acting Training
Howden received formal acting training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the institution now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
That training appears on his current professional AHA Talent profile.
The stage soon became a big part of his work.
Actually, theatre runs through much of his career. His credits range from Shakespeare to new Scottish writing, touring productions and work with some of Scotland’s main theatre companies.
His Theatre Career
Lewis Howden has a long list of stage credits.
His professional CV includes productions such as Macbeth, A Slow Air, Any Given Day, Dunisnane, Deathtrap, A Christmas Carol, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Tartuffe and August: Osage County.
He has also worked with the National Theatre of Scotland on several productions.
One confirmed example is Calum’s Road. The National Theatre of Scotland lists Howden among the cast of its 2013 production, which was presented with Communicado Theatre Company.
Another came in 2019.
Howden joined the cast of Red Dust Road, the stage version of Jackie Kay’s memoir adapted by Tanika Gupta and directed by Dawn Walton. The production played venues including Edinburgh, Stirling, Inverness, Greenock and Manchester.
His theatre record is broad. Very broad.
It shows an actor who kept working on stage even while television brought his face into homes across the UK.
Lewis Howden in Shetland
This is the role most people search for.
Lewis Howden plays Billy McCabe in Shetland, the BBC crime drama originally based on the novels of Ann Cleeves.
Billy works within the Shetland police team.
For much of the programme, he has been one of those familiar faces who helps keep the station running while the detectives handle the central murder investigation.
AHA Talent confirms Howden’s role as Sgt Billy McCabe and lists Shetland as a major part of his television career.
The character also remained part of the programme as its lead cast changed.
Douglas Henshall’s Jimmy Perez era eventually gave way to Ashley Jensen’s DI Ruth Calder, but Billy stayed.
That continuity counts.
Billy McCabe Gets a Bigger Story
Series 10 gave Howden more to work with.
Billy McCabe had a stronger personal connection to the central case than viewers were used to seeing.
Producer Louise Say told Shetland News that McCabe had a direct connection with the person whose death triggered the investigation. The storyline placed him closer to the emotional centre of the case.
It also took Howden out of Billy’s usual police-station setting.
During series 10 filming, Shetland News reported that Howden was shooting on the islands for only the second time during his years on the programme. Much of Billy’s normal material had previously been filmed elsewhere.
So viewers saw more of him.
And more of Billy.
The BBC later confirmed that Shetland would return in 2026 after series 10 ended. That season had featured an increased role for Howden’s character.
Is Lewis Howden Returning to Shetland?
Yes.
As of September 2026, Lewis Howden is confirmed as part of the returning cast for Shetland series 11.
Filming began in April 2026.
The announced returning cast included Lewis Howden as Billy McCabe, Steven Robertson as Sandy Wilson, Samuel Anderson as Matt Blake, Anne Kidd as Cora McLean, Angus Miller as Donnie, Conor McCarry as Alex Grant and Eubha Akilade as Lorna Burns.
Series 11 is a six-part story.
Its case starts after human remains are found inside a car recovered from the water, pushing the team toward an old disappearance and events from years earlier.
Filming continued in Shetland during June 2026.
So, basically, Billy McCabe’s story isn’t finished yet.
Other Television Work
Shetland may be his biggest screen role, but Lewis Howden has worked on several other recognised British television productions.
His professional credits include:
- Annika
- Hope Springs
- Taggart
- Rebus
- Monarch of the Glen
- The Cone Gatherers
- Christmas in Scotland
- Love in Scotland
These credits are listed by his professional representatives at AHA Talent.
That career path is quite easy to see.
Scottish television. Theatre. Crime drama. Character roles.
Then Shetland became the job that made Billy McCabe familiar to a much wider audience.
Work Beyond Television
Howden has never been limited to screen acting.
His stage record includes work with Dundee Rep, the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Traverse Theatre, Tron Theatre, Òran Mór and the National Theatre of Scotland.
He has also performed Macbeth in productions connected with Theatre Babel, including a Hong Kong tour, according to his professional CV.
Another interesting credit is A Slow Air.
His agency profile records the production at the Tron Theatre and 59E59 in New York.
That international work helps explain why describing Howden only as “the actor from Shetland” misses a lot.
The TV role is famous.
The stage career is much bigger than many viewers realise.
A Career Built Around Character Work
Lewis Howden’s career does not follow the celebrity-heavy path some actors take.
His public profile is quieter.
The work speaks louder.
He has moved between supporting television parts, ensemble theatre, touring productions and one long-running character that became closely connected with a major BBC drama.
That sort of career needs range.
One month can mean theatre.
Another can mean a television set.
Then it is back to Billy McCabe.
Simple on paper. Tough in practice.
Why Billy McCabe Matters in Shetland
Billy is rarely presented as the loudest person in the room.
That is part of the role.
He helps give the fictional police station a sense of history and continuity. Characters change. Detectives arrive and leave. Cases start and end.
Billy stays familiar.
Series 10 pushed the character beyond that familiar station role by giving him a direct personal link to the investigation.
It gave viewers a different look at him.
And for Howden, it meant a larger part of the story after years with the programme.
Lewis Howden’s Current Work
As of September 2026, Howden remains represented professionally by AHA Talent. His agency page continues to list his extensive theatre and screen record.
His main publicly confirmed current television work is Shetland series 11.
The new series started filming in Scotland in April 2026, with production later moving into Shetland itself. Howden was officially named among the returning regular cast.
For viewers searching to check whether Billy has left the programme, the answer is clear.
Lewis Howden is still part of Shetland.
Final Thought
Lewis Howden has spent years doing the kind of acting career that can be easy to miss if you only know him from one TV role.
His theatre record is long.
His screen work is steady.
And Billy McCabe has become his most recognisable character.
Still, Shetland tells only part of the story. Howden had years of stage and television experience behind him before playing Billy, and he continues to work as part of the series as it moves into its eleventh season.
For now, one fact matters most to fans: Billy McCabe is returning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lewis Howden?
Lewis Howden is a Scottish actor known for television, film and theatre work. He is best known for playing Billy McCabe in the BBC crime drama Shetland.
Who does Lewis Howden play in Shetland?
He plays Billy McCabe, a member of the police team featured throughout the crime drama.
Is Lewis Howden still in Shetland?
Yes. Lewis Howden was confirmed among the returning regular cast members for Shetland series 11 when filming began in April 2026.
What other TV programmes has Lewis Howden appeared in?
His professional credits include Annika, Hope Springs, Taggart, Rebus and Monarch of the Glen.
Did Lewis Howden work in theatre?
Yes. His stage career includes productions with the National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep, Traverse Theatre, Royal Lyceum, Tron Theatre and Òran Mór.
Where did Lewis Howden train as an actor?
His AHA Talent profile states that he trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Was Lewis Howden in Red Dust Road?
Yes. The National Theatre of Scotland lists Lewis Howden among the cast of its 2019 production of Red Dust Road.
Is Lewis Howden returning for Shetland series 11?
Yes. His return as Billy McCabe was confirmed when the series 11 cast and production details were announced in April 2026.
