BritBox Sets North American Premiere Date for Silent Witness, Season 28
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Silent Witness returns to North America with ten new hour-long episodes on BritBox, delivering five new cases for the Lyell Centre team. Emilia Fox returns for her 20th season as forensic pathologist Dr. Nikki Alexander, joined once again by David Caves as forensic expert Jack Hodgson.
What Is Silent Witness About?
First launched in 1996 and created by former detective Nigel McCrery, Silent Witness is a forensic crime drama about experts at the Lyell Centre who help police determine how victims died and who is responsible. The series began with Amanda Burton as Professor Sam Ryan and later shifted to an ensemble model anchored by Dr. Nikki Alexander, played by Emilia Fox, who joined in 2004 and is now the show’s longest-serving lead. Each story typically unfolds over two episodes, combining post-mortem science, scene work, and case conferences to build evidence the courts can use.
Across nearly three decades, the Lyell team has featured memorable colleagues including Dr. Harry Cunningham (Tom Ward) and Professor Leo Dalton (William Gaminara) in the 2000s, followed in the 2010s by forensic scientist Jack Hodgson (David Caves) and examiner Clarissa Mullery (Liz Carr). That continuity—seasoned regulars joined by new specialists—has kept the show’s focus on method and team dynamics while allowing fresh perspectives as procedures and technology evolve.
The fictional Lyell Centre has moved with the series over time (early years referenced university facilities, later years a standalone institute), but the format has remained consistent: five tightly constructed cases per season since the switch to ten episodes, with occasional “event” variations. Season 28 continues that pattern, pairing long-running character arcs with case-led storytelling that emphasizes how forensic findings are gathered, tested, and presented.
What to Expect in Season 28
Season 28 is structured as five investigations told across ten 60-minute episodes. The Lyell team faces cases involving the exploitation of elderly victims, the reappearance of a hammer-wielding attacker, a dismembered hand recovered from a canal, and the unexplained death of an airline passenger.
Emilia Fox (Signora Volpe) returns as Dr. Nikki Alexander and David Caves (15 Days) is back as Jack Hodgson. New this season are Maggie Steed (Rivals) as Professor Harriet Maven, the Lyell’s new head pathologist, and Francesca Mills (Time Bandits) as crime analyst Kit Brooks. The expanded roster tests the Lyell’s routines as the team tackles its most challenging workload in years.
Two new recruits change the team dynamic: veteran pathologist Professor Harriet Maven, played by Maggie Steed (Rivals), and sharp-witted crime analyst Kit Brooks, played by Francesca Mills (Time Bandits). Their arrival raises the bar for the science and adds new perspectives in the lab and at scenes.
Jack and Nikki (SPOILER ALERT for Season 27)
Season 27 ended with Jack proposing to Nikki, and Season 28 acknowledges that milestone without turning the show into a romance. As Emilia Fox notes, “The reaction of fans was amazing… There was a surprise element to it, but it reflected what they do as well.” She adds that Jack “had really thought about it and cared about it,” and that the new episodes explore “what a good wedding will be for them” while the pair continue to work high-stakes cases.
When Does Season 28 Premiere in the U.S.?
Silent Witness Season 28 premieres on BritBox in North America on September 25, 2025. Episodes will be released weekly.
