Silent Witness Returns To BBC With Birmingham Move

After nearly three decades of murder mysteries, forensic puzzles, and dramatic cast changes, Silent Witness is returning to BBC screens this February—proving that some crime dramas really are immortal. The long-running series, which first aired in 1996, is now entering its 29th season, and this time, it’s shaking up the formula with a fresh setting, a host of new faces, and personal milestones for its beloved characters.

According to BBC, the latest season of Silent Witness will premiere on Monday, February 2, 2026, with episodes airing on Mondays and Tuesdays on BBC One and streaming on BBC iPlayer. For those who are feeling especially nostalgic (or brave), all 28 previous series are also available on iPlayer. That’s a lot of post-mortems to binge before the new episodes drop!

This year, the action shifts from London’s familiar Lyell Centre to Birmingham, where the team will operate out of the newly established Sir William Bowman Centre of Excellence. The move is more than just a change of scenery. As reported by CultBox and reinforced by the BBC’s first-look images, the city’s locations and state-of-the-art forensic facilities will play a central role in the new stories. The show’s producers are clearly making the most of their new home, promising five captivating stories told over ten episodes—each one designed to challenge the team in fresh ways.

The main cast remains a reassuring anchor for viewers. Emilia Fox returns as Dr. Nikki Alexander, now a staple of British television after two decades in the role. She’s joined by David Caves as Jack Hodgson, Maggie Steed as Harriet, and Francesca Mills as Kit. The chemistry between Nikki and Jack, in particular, has been a slow-burn fan favorite, culminating in their on-screen marriage at the end of season 28—a moment that sent social media into a frenzy. The new season begins with the couple settling into married life, even as their professional challenges intensify.

Guest stars are another major draw this year. The lineup reads like a who’s who of British acting talent, including Lydia Wilson (Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue), Chris Reilly (Slow Horses), Ben Batt (Riot Women), Vinette Robinson (Boiling Point), Selin Hizli (Am I Being Unreasonable?), Gerard Kearns (Waiting for the Out), Adam Rayner (Superman & Lois), Phaldut Sharma (EastEnders), Dino Fetscher (Fool Me Once), Cat Simmons (The Bill, Family Affairs), Chris Coghill (Slow Horses), and Mollie Winnard (All Creatures Great and Small). It’s a guest list that should keep even the most die-hard British TV fans on their toes.

Behind the scenes, the show continues to evolve. Silent Witness is produced by BBC Studios Drama, with Suzi McIntosh, Nawfal Faizullah, and Emilia Fox herself serving as executive producers. Seán Gleeson returns as producer, ensuring continuity even as the narrative landscape changes. According to I Heart British TV, a 30th season is already in the works, so it’s safe to say the show isn’t going anywhere soon.

For those who haven’t kept up with the show’s labyrinthine history, Silent Witness began with Amanda Burton as Dr. Sam Ryan, who led the team for the first eight seasons before handing the reins to Emilia Fox’s Nikki Alexander. Over the years, the cast has seen plenty of turnover—Tom Ward’s Dr. Harry Cunningham and William Gaminara’s Professor Leo Dalton shaped the middle years, while David Caves’ Jack Hodgson and Liz Carr’s Clarissa Mullery brought new energy in later seasons. Maggie Steed and Francesca Mills are more recent additions, and their roles have helped keep the dynamic fresh.

The series has never shied away from innovation. This season, storylines will tackle the polarizing impact of social media, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the digital distortion of reality. As Emilia Fox told the Daily Mail, “There’s a lot to look forward to. I like the idea of two scientists, who only deal in facts, learning about love and emotional chemistry. David Caves and I have a very, very emotional storyline together.”

Off-screen, life has been full of its own plot twists for Fox. In a candid interview with the Daily Mail, she revealed that she has been single for a year, having separated from TV producer Jonathan Stadlen at the start of 2025. The relationship, which began in 2021, was described by Fox as “life-changing.” Reflecting on the breakup, she shared, “It’s really sad when relationships finish, and particularly one for which we both had lots of hope. The end of a relationship, no matter why it happens, or even if it happens in the best way… well, you’ve thought your life was going to be one thing, and then it’s something else. How you cope is about the attitude you take.”

Fox credits time, friends, family, work, and nature as her sources of healing. “Since we parted, I’ve put into practice all the things I know make me feel better, and that’s helped me reach a more positive place,” she said. She’s also found comfort in her work, not just on Silent Witness but in her other crime drama, Signora Volpe. “I’ve had a year and time does its work, it does its healing. When you say that to a teenager, they don’t understand. Even in your 20s it’s hard to believe, but in my 50s I know time has the power to make me feel better.”

Her 15-year-old daughter Rose, who is preparing for her GCSEs this summer, has also been a source of joy. The two have taken trips together, finding solace in quiet places and wildflowers. Fox’s approach to life after heartbreak is refreshingly pragmatic: “You can see life’s dents as harmful, or choose to think they make us who we are. So my attitude is that I take all the good things that happened – I have nothing but lovely things to say about Jonathan, and I feel lucky to have been on that path with him – and accept it’s time to look to a different future.”

With Silent Witness entering its 29th season, the show’s legacy as the world’s longest-running crime drama continues to grow. Its ability to reinvent itself—whether through new settings, cast changes, or topical storylines—has kept it relevant and beloved. As Fox wryly noted, “Does she ever wake up in the night and wonder if Nikki might one day be the corpse on the Silent Witness mortuary slab? ‘It’s quite possible,’ Emilia says wryly, ‘but I’d only find out when I read the script!’”

As the Lyell team unpacks their bags in Birmingham and fans prepare for another round of twists and turns, one thing is certain: Silent Witness just won’t die—and for many, that’s the best news of all.