Ashley Jensen and Mark Bonnar reunite for new BBC sitcom set in rural Scotland

Ashley Jensen and Mark Bonnar are teaming up once again, this time for a new BBC sitcom that will take the pair into the Scottish countryside.

The Shetland stars will lead Rambling, a one-off half-hour comedy described as enchanting, warm and witty. Set against the breathtaking, and at times sodden, landscape of rural Scotland, the sitcom follows two very different people whose unlikely walking partnership gradually brings them closer together.

Written by Iain Connell and Sharon Young, Rambling has been commissioned by BBC Scotland and BBC Comedy and will be made by The Comedy Unit for BBC iPlayer, BBC Scotland and BBC One.

Two strangers, one very unexpected journey

At the centre of the story are Gerry, played by Mark Bonnar, and Cat, played by Ashley Jensen.

They could hardly be more different.

Gerry likes order and structure. He plans every stage of his journey and approaches his walk with a clear purpose. Cat, meanwhile, is much more chaotic and has a talent for getting lost, even when she is simply trying to find her way back to the car park.

Gerry has set out to fulfil a promise he made to his recently deceased brother. Cat is travelling alone after being thrown out of a walking group that was meant to give her a fresh start.

Their meeting sets the unlikely pair on the same path. As they spend more time walking and talking, they begin to discover that, despite their differences, they may have more in common than either expected.

The BBC describes Rambling as a feel-good Scottish sitcom about putting your best foot forward.

A reunion for two familiar faces

Both Jensen and Bonnar are well known to viewers of Shetland, although they did not actually appear opposite each other in the series.

Bonnar played Duncan Hunter before leaving Shetland at the end of series seven. Jensen subsequently joined the drama in series eight as DI Ruth Calder.

Their new BBC comedy therefore marks a reunion outside the crime drama, although it is not the first time the two actors have worked together.

They previously appeared together in Channel 4’s Catastrophe, playing the dysfunctional married couple Fran and Chris.

This time, their characters’ relationship is very different. Instead of an established couple dealing with the complications of married life, Gerry and Cat are two strangers thrown together by circumstances and a shared stretch of Scottish countryside.

Mark Bonnar on playing Gerry

For Bonnar, the chance to reunite with Jensen was one of the attractions of the project.

“I’m so thrilled to be doing this beautifully written, very funny script by Iain and Sharon,” he said. “I’ve never played someone quite like Gerry before, and I can’t wait to get cracking! On top of that, to be reunited with the wonderful Ashley Jensen! Doesn’t get any better.”

The role gives Bonnar a character unlike those he has played previously, while also bringing him back together with an actor he has already shared a screen with.

Bonnar is also known for roles in Guilt, Line of Duty, Casualty, Unforgotten, Ludwig and Catastrophe.

Ashley Jensen finds something deeper in the comedy

Jensen has also spoken warmly about the script, suggesting that the story has more emotional weight beneath its comic premise.

“Sharon and Ian’s script is about nothing and everything. It’s smart, honest, poignant, moving and funny. It’s about loss, loneliness, and our need for connection,” she said.

The actor also welcomed the opportunity to return to the BBC Comedy unit, where she began her career.

“I started my career with the BBC Comedy unit a long time ago, so I am delighted to return and be part of Rambling and to be reunited with the talented Mark Bonnar along with a resilient and incredibly skilled crew with whom we will be braving the Scottish elements to bring this beautiful special to life.”

Jensen’s television credits include Shetland, After Life, Agatha Raisin, Ugly Betty, Extras and Catastrophe.

Written by the team behind The Scotts

The sitcom comes from writers Iain Connell and Sharon Young, who have previously worked together on The Scotts. Connell is also known for Burnistoun.

The Comedy Unit is producing the special, with Iain Davidson as producer and Ollie Parsons directing. Rab Christie is the executive producer.

BBC Scotland commissioning editor Gavin Smith said the sitcom is packed with “brilliant banter”, while BBC Comedy commissioning editor Navi Lamba described its central idea as bringing unlikely people together.

That combination of comedy, contrasting personalities and the Scottish outdoors forms the basis of the new special.

When will Rambling air?

A BBC broadcast date has not yet been announced. The programme is set to be available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Scotland and BBC One.

Recent programme listings currently place Rambling in 2027, although an exact transmission date has not been confirmed.

For now, viewers will have to wait a little longer to see Jensen and Bonnar take their very different characters on the same Scottish walking route.

And while the title may suggest a simple countryside comedy, the premise points to something more personal: two people dealing with loss, loneliness and change, gradually finding common ground as they make their way across Scotland.