A chilling true crime documentary airing tonight on BBC Two revisits one of Scotland's most shocking murder cases that rocked the remote Orkney islands nearly three decades ago.
The 1994 Tragedy That Shook Orkney
In 1994, the peaceful Orkney community was shattered when 26-year-old Shamsuddin Mahmood was shot dead while serving food at an Indian restaurant. The cold-blooded killing remained unsolved for years, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion across the islands.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when attention focused on a local teenager, Michael Ross, who was just 15 years old at the time of the murder. After a lengthy investigation and legal process, Ross was eventually found guilty of the murder fourteen years later in 2008.
Prison Interview and Family Perspectives
In The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder, journalist Hazel Martin conducts a thorough re-examination of the case, speaking to key figures connected to the tragedy. The documentary features a rare interview with Michael Ross from prison, where he continues to maintain his innocence.
Viewers will also hear from Eddy and Moira Ross, Michael's parents, who share their perspective on the case that saw their son become the chief suspect as a teenager. The programme includes interviews with Mahmood's family members and some of the investigators who worked on the complex case.
Tonight's Television Highlights
The documentary forms part of a strong evening of programming across British television channels. On BBC One at 8pm, Celebrity Race Across The World continues as the famous duos navigate their way through Costa Rica toward Panama.
Channel 4 presents Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures at 9pm, narrated by Lenny Henry, which profiles cutting-edge cancer research including the work of Cambridge neurosurgeon Richard Mair.
Sky Atlantic airs the adaptation of Nick Cave's novel The Death of Bunny Munro starring Matt Smith, while BBC Two's drama The Ridge continues at 9.45pm with Mia getting closer to uncovering the truth about her sister's death.
Australian Survivor returns for its ninth series on BBC Three at 10.10pm, featuring 12 pairs of contestants battling it out in the Queensland wilderness.
