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Original poster

To watch Silent Witness despite it being the worst TV show ever?

137 replies

mynamechangemyrules · 10/03/2026 23:13

I’ve always watched it. It’s a Winter to Spring habit. Nikki is wooden and has never become a real character and the introduction of Jack… 😳
But this season is beyond- Jack’s pirates of the Caribbean makeover, Nikki staring thoughtfully into the distance and spouting some poetic existential lines. It’s the worst. And I can’t stop watching.

OP posts:
halftermhalfawake · 11/03/2026 23:04

Popfan · 11/03/2026 21:33

Witless Silence in our house too, definitely pinched from the French and Saunders sketch years ago!

It's absolutely ridiculous but so good too!

F+S Witless Silence narrator: "pensive stare into middle distance" 🤣

SaucepanRattle · 11/03/2026 23:02

I absolutely loved the plane episode last series. Best one in years. Loved it loved it loved it.

But you all make very good points about the cast, chemistry, protocols, tiresome kidnappings/peril. The same reason I gave up reading Kay Scarpetta. Tediously assaulted/kidnapped/loved one hurt every time. Stay in your lane!

EilonwyWithRedGoldHair · 11/03/2026 22:51

Is it still going? I remember it being called Witless Silence somewhere?

I think it was quite good in the early days, though I've never re-watched any so I could be mistaken.

IdentifyingAsAWoollyMammoth · 11/03/2026 22:41

Kit and Harriet are the best things in it by far, both as characters and because they're bloody good actors. They show up how bland Nikki and Jack are as characters and how stilted both actors are.

We call it Violent Shitness and only watch it to laugh at much of it.

WarrenTofficier · 11/03/2026 22:38

Danikm151 · 11/03/2026 21:37

I only started watching this year as it’s set in Birmingham. I shouldn’t have…. The “geography” pisses me off. They say places are certain areas but they’re opposite sides of the city!

That's always the problem with something set in an area you know well How did X turn out of Y street but end up in road A 4 miles away. Why is so and so driving from there to there when it's a 2 minute walk away. How come their front door is in town C but the back door is in town E?

Brightlittlecanary · 11/03/2026 21:59

I really like it and enjoy the story lines, but I don’t think there is any chemistry between jack and Nikki and it feels v wooden when they try to act it out,

SerendipityCat · 11/03/2026 21:47

It's absolute tosh, isn't it? Sadly, it's required viewing in our house. I've liked Maggie Steed ever since "Shine On Harvey Moon" all those years ago, and Kit is a great addition. It keeps my husband amused as well, watching Jack "looming around like a wooden gorilla" as he puts it. It's nothing like as good as it used to be in the Amanda Burton days, but it still exerts a horrible fascination.

Danikm151 · 11/03/2026 21:37

I only started watching this year as it’s set in Birmingham. I shouldn’t have…. The “geography” pisses me off. They say places are certain areas but they’re opposite sides of the city!

Planner2026 · 11/03/2026 21:34

YABU and so am I

Lilactimes · 11/03/2026 21:34

I stopped watching when Amanda Burton left - am tempted to start again after this thread! For old times sake 😅

Popfan · 11/03/2026 21:33

Witless Silence in our house too, definitely pinched from the French and Saunders sketch years ago!

It's absolutely ridiculous but so good too!

Lucyccfc68 · 11/03/2026 21:30

Get your point about silent witness, but you are definitely wrong in saying it’s the worst TV show ever.

That accolade has to go to the likes of Love Island, Towie and MAFS. Absolute garbage.

Zapx · 11/03/2026 21:30

I spent this last season commenting with various levels of outrage on Jack’s facial hair decisions 🙂 Oh and I didn’t understand the last two episodes. DH explained them to me…, and I still don’t understand them.

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 11/03/2026 21:30

We watch it out of habit too, but it really is dire. They don’t gel as a couple in the slightest, let alone whether they’d be allowed to work together.

Bonkers1966 · 11/03/2026 21:27

Yeah. Latest series is just plain weird. I can't stop watching this fecking show and I dread them writing Jack out. Sigh.

Gingerwarthog · 11/03/2026 21:24

I like Nikki’s outfits! I watch it to get inspiration for tops to go with jeans. Does that make me shallow? (Also like Kit and Maggie Steed)

Nofeckingway · 11/03/2026 21:22

@NeedSomeHeadspace Dungarees! 😂
With sensible shoes and twee cardigans .

GenerousGardener · 11/03/2026 21:17

I like the actress who plays Kit, buts she’s Earthy Mangold in Worzel Gummidge and I can’t get past that!

AllJoyAndNoFun · 11/03/2026 21:00

maddiemookins16mum · 11/03/2026 20:46

We call it Slightly Witless or Rightly Shitness.

Violent witless in our house

AmusedPlumCat · 11/03/2026 20:52

ThinkingAbout2026 · 11/03/2026 01:47

I haven't watched it properly in years (not since they killed off Thomas), I loved the Nikki/Harry era, I wish they got together, Jack is nice but not a patch on Harry.

Edited

I miss Harry! The actor seems to have vanished

maddiemookins16mum · 11/03/2026 20:46

We call it Slightly Witless or Rightly Shitness.

WarrenTofficier · 11/03/2026 20:38

nevernotmaybe · 11/03/2026 11:58

People watch all sorts and it get popular even, look at Traitors nonsense, and masked singer or whatever it is called, and all that kind of crap.

The only purpose of it is to entertain, it either does or doesn't. If it does for you, it objectively fulfils its role for you.

The problem is it used to be a fairly high quality drama and it has slipped in to farce. It a bit like booking to see the 3 tenors but getting the Masked Singer.

NeedSomeHeadspace · 11/03/2026 20:32

It’s farcical these days. I feel no chemistry between Jack and Nikki, and that shower scene and knowing they intertwine themselves in chavvy gold sheets is even more unrealistic! Nikki used to look quite edgy in earlier series and I always wanted her blouses (!) but all of a sudden she’s lost her style and been downgraded, complete with annoying tightly woven plaits. They’ll have her in dungarees next! Their roles seem to cross many boundaries now which I find confusing. And the introduction of Kit … sigh … terrible actress who acts like a giddy 5 year old wanting to be high-fived rather than a professional person. Get rid and bring back Clarissa!

nevernotmaybe · 11/03/2026 11:58

People watch all sorts and it get popular even, look at Traitors nonsense, and masked singer or whatever it is called, and all that kind of crap.

The only purpose of it is to entertain, it either does or doesn't. If it does for you, it objectively fulfils its role for you.

LBFseBrom · 11/03/2026 09:48

I hven't seen it for a while but always loved it.
Your choice whether or not to watch, surely.