Silent Witness season 24: Release date, cast, plot and latest news for 2021 series

The BBC recently released a trailer previewing some of the cases to come during the 10-episode run – which also teased some intriguing developments for Nikki and Jack as they are brought increasingly close together.

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming series of Silent Witness.

Silent Witness season 24 release date

The new series finally begins on Monday 6th September at 9pm on BBC One, with the following episode airing at the same time the following evening.

The remaining four double-headers will then be released following that same pattern, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday until the finale.

For the previous eight years in a row, a new series of Silent Witness has debuted in early January, but this was forced to change this year as a knock-on effect of the production issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

It looks like the new series will be worth the wait though, with executive producer Jo McClellan said: “Series 24 is going to be brilliant and, although fans will have to wait a little while longer than usual to see it, I promise them it is worth it!”

Filming began in early September 2020, with Emilia Fox writing on Instagram: "So happy to be back filming with the #usualsuspects and some new ones too.....!"

Executive Producer Lawrence Till confirmed that series 24 will consist of "five exciting and distinctive stories told across ten episodes".

Silent Witness cast

Emilia Fox will be back as Dr Nikki Alexander – the role she has played since 2004 – while David Caves will return as Jack Hodgson.

But after the dramatic events of the series 23 finale, two of the four main cast members have left the show: Richard Lintern (Lyell Centre boss Thomas Chamberlain) and Liz Carr (forensics expert Clarissa Mullery).

Thomas Chamberlain had a pretty definitive exit storyline, suffering a painful on-screen death from nerve agent poisoning. His final gesture was an act of tragic heroism and self-sacrifice as he worked out the agent's chemical structure, providing the key to curing his seriously-ill colleague Jack.

Clarissa Mullery has also departed the show, although thankfully not in a body bag. At the end of the previous series, Clarissa explained: "I just know, deep down – that it’s time for me to move on, to focus less on the dead and more on the living. On life."

On her decision to leave the show, actress Liz Carr said: "Originally only employed for four episodes as Jack’s side kick, I am incredibly proud that I leave as a main character in one of the BBC’s landmark dramas. Silent Witness has given me such an amazing opportunity to develop as an actor but I know this is the right time to take a leap of faith, leaving what I know and seeing what other opportunities await."

"Liz and Richard, in their individual and brilliant ways, brought so much to Silent Witness," said executive producer Richard Stokes. "They have been much loved characters and will be missed by us all at The Lyell."

Who has joined Silent Witness?

Jason Wong has joined the cast of Silent Witness in the role of pathologist Adam Yuen. He's previously been seen in The Gentleman, Chimerica, and Strangers – and the BBC has released a first-look image of him in the board room at the Lyell Centre alongside Emilia Fox (Dr Nikki Alexander).

On joining the show, Jason Wong said: “I am so excited to be joining Silent Witness, like everyone else I have been a huge fan of the show for years and to be becoming part of the family feels like a huge privilege. I can't wait for audiences to see all we have in store for them in this new series.”

There will also be a number of guest stars during the series – including Kevin Eldon, Ann Mitchell, Lorraine Ashbourne, Sian Phillips, Pauline McGlynn and Nicholas Woodeson.

Silent Witness plot

According to the BBC, Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Jack Hodgson (David Caves) are looking forward to the future at the start of series 24 – "However buried secrets and memories soon surface, and, when ghosts from the past emerge, the two are forced increasingly close to one another."

The arrival of Adam Yuen (Jason Wong) "disturbs this new dynamic". Described as "a confident, bright and keen pathologist who’s constantly striving to be the best," he immediately rubs both Nikki and Jack up the wrong way.

Emilia Fox said: “It’s fantastic to be back filming Series 24 of Silent Witness with five terrific new storylines, our wonderful crew, great new casts for each story and to be welcoming the very lovely and talented Jason Wong to the Lyell team, who is an absolute joy to work with!”

The first double-headed is titled Redemption, and sees Nikki forced to confront a case in her past after the team is called into investigate a suspicious death in a high security prison.

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Silent Witness series 24 trailer

The BBC released a trailer for the new series in early September – and it included a look at some intriguing new cases for the Lyell crew, in addition to the entrance of new character Adam (Jason Wong).

Will there be another series of Silent Witness?

Yes! Following airing of the series 23 finale, the BBC confirmed that Silent Witness will return for a further two series: a 24th as well as a 25th Anniversary series.

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, said: "Silent Witness entertains audiences from all generations and continues to be one of the UK’s most successful returning crime drama series. I’m thrilled it will continue to grip the nation in 2021, and can’t wait for viewers to see what is in store for its 25th anniversary in 2022."

Silent Witness returns on Monday 6th September at 9pm on BBC One. Check out what else is on with our TV Guide, or visit our Drama hub for all the latest news and features.