Silent Witness moves to Birmingham for series 29 - 2 February 2026

[IwantToRetire]

Suddenly got a reminder via my digi box telling me I had this to look forward to next monday.

And just thought given responses to last series would alert others to this tv event.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b007y6k8/silent-witness?seriesId=trailers

Am looking forward to the high level of quirky comments as in response to the last series ... https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/4980624-silent-witness-news-series-for-2024-starts-tonight-what-will-our-multi-tasking-pathologists-get-up-to-this-time

I can't believe how bad this has got!
I always had to try hard to suspend disbelief as they ran about interfering and investigating but it was very watchable. This series just feels as though they think of an issue they want then make a story to fit it no matter how clunky (e.g. Russian bots manipulate right wing meatheads while Harriet just happens to bump into a lovely Asian man leading to a lovely multicultural ending)
Don't even get me started on Jack in the latest offerings, I'd be tempted to break into the jail and shoot him myself

Why do a lot of you bother watching every week if u clearly don’t enjoy it? 😂 there’s loads of channels now no need to put yourself through it.

i do enjoy it, but my main beef this series is being from Sparkhill originally, spent most of my childhood there, and my dad grew up there, boy are they riding roughshod over a lot of local cultural history and dynamics.

I think many people whether a series like this or a soap, stick with them when they go through bad patches out of some hope it will go back to being good.

And although not a soap watcher have seen whole newspaper articles about how loyal fans are disguster or upset about some new character, or unlikely pairing (and mad story lines).

I stuck with Call the Midwife for far too long after it ran out of the original true stories somewho thinking it would get its authenticity back, but of course it didn't.

But sad to say I think since Nicky became the main character (and producer?) the story lines haven't been great.

A bit ashamed to say I was wondering if they were going to kill Jack off but seem from fan sites that some viewers think he is wonderful.

Accoring to AI it is about making the programme more modern!

When a show has been running for nearly 30 years, the shift in tone and character types can feel jarring—especially if you prefer the more intellectual, understated energy of the earlier seasons.

The "macho" or "muscle-bound" vibe you’re picking up on is a frequent point of contention. Here are a few reasons why your perspective is shared by a specific subset of the audience:

Why some fans find him frustrating

• The "Action Hero" Pivot: For many, Silent Witness was originally a cerebral procedural. Jack brought a more physical, almost "action-man" energy that some feel belongs in a police thriller rather than a pathology lab.
• The Harry Comparison: If you were a fan of Harry Cunningham, Jack can feel like a shallow replacement. Harry was known for his wit and academic dry humor, whereas Jack’s intensity can come across as "boring" or one-dimensional if that's not the archetype you enjoy.
• Soap-Opera Elements: The heavy focus on his personal life (his father, his brother, the romance with Nikki) can feel like it’s taking away from the science and the mystery, which is why many "purist" fans are threatening to switch off.

Is the show losing its way?

You aren't alone in thinking about stopping. TV forums often see "Veteran Viewers" complaining that the show has moved too far from its roots. While Jack is popular with the "shipping" side of the fandom (who love the romance), he is often the lightning rod for criticism from those who want the show to be a gritty, science-led drama again.
It’s a classic case of a show evolving to stay "modern," but in doing so, alienating the people who liked the original formula.

Well that puts me in my place. I am just a sub set!

Half the fun of watching EW is picking up the ridiculous stuff. However, I do think it would be improved by killing off Jack or sending him to a monastery. All the cage fighting stuff has always left me cold, and I increasingly struggle to find him credible either as a forensic expert or Nikki's husband.

I'm glad I'm not the only one bewildered by the ending of Enemy Within, I was convinced at the end of Episode 2 there was going to be at least one more episode to tie up the ends.

Take a look at the more recent Shetland threads and you will see this is not unique to followers of Silent Witness!

SW has always been fairly unbelievable, even back in Amanda Burtons day, but I hate Jack and Nikki together too. He's a horrible character.
I still watch it, DH gave up many years ago.

I like the characters (apart from Jack) I love Kit.
I wondered if they were setting Harriet up for a dementia story but the getting lost was just to find the Asian man to show a bit of racial harmony.
I really wanted Jack to die in prison 😔

A bit ashamed to say I was wondering if they were going to kill Jack off but seem from fan sites that some viewers think he is wonderful.

Is the fan club his family and gay men? He does strip off a lot... I think he is there to pull in male viewers, maybe engage the men who's partners make them watch it? I have yet to ever hear anyone say they like him on here anyway!

My mother and i are rewatching the first series, and tbh, yes the current ones are a little light on fact, but the Drama with the characters was possibly worse in season one.. there was the same amount of interfering with the police investigations too.

I think time has coloured peoples memories of the first season.

I cant reallly claim to be a long standing follower of SW as in fact i never saw the start of the series with Amanda Burton, and did try to watch some last year and just couldn't get engrossed.

I watched from the start a couple of years ago as they are all on iplayer. I think most people just hate Jack. He is completely out of place in the entire setting.

Fanzines all seem to think he is great, and that by the end of the 2 episodes next week Nicky will be gone

Please note this is NOT a spoiler but just indicates MN telly addicts seem to have difference response to Silent Witness!

Can I ask a question about end of episode 8 current series?

I think once as episode has been broadcast that's fine.

Not that I am offering to answer the question as I seem to misunderstand rather a lot.

But I am sure someone will know the answer!

Nicky said a line along the lines of “he’s my husband, he’s always in trouble”

what woman talks like that?!???! Most bizarre line ever?

Not really. that is Jacks personality. He's been trouble all along.

I actually said to my Mom that i'd hoped with them being Married and happy, that they'd give Jack a bit longer being stable and out of trouble.

Without giving away my age, but I can remember as a teenager some women talking like that.

Almost with pride that their husbands was a bit "naughty" or something.

But would have that now, particularly with what seems like Emilia Fox as the producer has made the roles women have not be down trodden housewives.

Thanks it was more a disbelief but how on earth is Jack able to keep on doing his 2 jobs considering what has happened?

I said that to DH last night! He’d recovered well for someone who though he was a bare knuckle killer last week.

Lucy Cohu can’t be a bit player!

I waiting to comment until tomorrow as I have watched both episodes.

But feel able to say that they are following the now routine theme of taking on issues raised by recent events in the news.

Is Silent Witness a plausible place to venture into complex situations?

I’m tempted but going to try and hold off till tomorrow.

What's with the philosophical talk overs now from Harriet, straight out of call the midwife., are they trying to say she's losing her memory.

That’s what I’ve been wondering. It’s all getting a bit odd odder