‘Silent Witness’ Season 26 To Air In January On BBC One/iPlayer & Adds 2 New Cast

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After a little shift from its usual premiere slot earlier this year due to the pandemic, ‘Silent Witness‘ returns to its traditional January release date for Season 26, and brings with it a couple of new faces.

‘Silent Witness’ follows Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and her team of forensic pathologists as they delve in to solving various criminal cases. The cases that end up at The Lyell Centre are rarely straightforward. Initial suspicions are challenged as the evidence mounts, and Nikki and the team must work harder than ever to find the truth.

With five new contemporary stories, told over ten episodes, joining Fox are David Caves, returning as Jack Hodgson, alongside new cast members Aki Omoshaybi (‘The Pursuit Of Love’, ‘Queens Of Mystery’, ‘Real’) and Alastair Michael (‘Ridley Road’, ‘Snatch’).

Omoshaybi plays Gabriel Folukoya, an academic, neurologist and pathologist who has spent much of his career in innovative research, primarily in the field of data analysis.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining such a long-running and much-loved series,” says Aki Omoshaybi. “Gabriel has much less practical experience than Nikki and prefers to computer model an autopsy than to slice a body open, but deep down Gabriel knows he needs people like Nikki and Jack. He’s at a juncture in his life where he needs to make changes, to open up more, to allow himself to be more vulnerable.”

Michael plays Velvy Schur, the Lyell’s new APT (Anatomical Pathology Technologist) trainee, as recommended by Clarissa Mullery. Velvy has recently left his ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and is now finding his own path, balancing his career and his faith, which he still holds very dear to his heart.

“I’m delighted to be joining the cast of Silent Witness. We meet my character Velvy as he is on a really interesting journey from within an Orthodox community into a wide secular society,” said Alastair Michael about his new role. “He is still acclimatising to the change and conflicted about the life he left behind, but he is eager for new knowledge, new experiences, and new friendships. This curiosity can sometimes get the better of him and it might even ruffle some people’s feathers. So, it’ll be fun to see how that plays out in the Lyell.”

In addition to those new and returning characters, Rhiannon May is back as Jack’s niece, Cara Connelly, and has been upped to a series regular. Arriving unexpectedly from Belfast to announce she is starting a university course in Criminology, giving Jack little choice but to let her stay with him while she studies. Cara soon wins her uncle around, excelling in her studies and proving a future professional match for Jack.

“I’m really excited to see my character Cara develop over this series as she starts her criminology degree in London,” comments May. “After leaving her overprotective mum in Belfast, she is determined to discover her own independence and find her feet in a new city. She’s hoping to spread her wings and experience the world for herself.”

Silent Witness is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and iPlayer. Executive Producers are Suzi McIntosh, Emilia Fox and Priscilla Parish for BBC Studios and Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC. Josh Dynevor is producer.

“Silent Witness is back with a bang. With the help of our brilliant writers, directors, and actors, we have thrilling stories that will transport audiences into five very different worlds,” adds Suzi McIntosh, Executive Producer, BBC Studios. “I am delighted to welcome Aki and Alastair, who are wonderful additions to the Lyell family along with the fabulous returning Rhiannon. I can’t wait for the series to hit our screens.”

‘Silent Witness’ 25th-anniversary series launched in May 2022 and is one of the top five BBC scripted titles of the year so far, with episode one consolidating to 8.3 million viewers across its first 30 days. BBC Studios handle global distribution and ‘Silent Witness’ is currently enjoyed in 235 territories worldwide including – Australia (ABC and BBC First), US (BritBox), Germany (ZDF), and Sweden (SVT).

‘Silent Witness‘ Season 26 does not yet have an exact premiere date, but will air on BBC One and iPlayer in January 2023. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when they gets a UK premiere date.