"The producers wanted to put them together and see what would happen, and then we wanted to caretake them into not just being broken up, but to retain the flavour which the audience has seemed to have enjoyed, which is that they can still have that fun and they can still have that relationship."

But there's still plenty of scope for drama: "There's a different pressure on them in that they realise they're each other's strengths, but they're also each other's Achilles heel if anything happens to the other one.

"The love they have for each other is put under pressure."

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Silent Witness season 26.

Silent Witness season 26 cast

The main cast of Silent Witness season 26 is as follows.

• Emilia Fox plays Dr Nikki Alexander
• David Caves plays Jack Hodgson
• Alastair Michael plays Velvy Schur
• Aki Omoshaybi plays Gabriel Folukoya
• Rhiannon May plays Cara Connelly

For more about the major players in Silent Witness season 26, read on...

Emilia Fox plays Dr Nikki Alexander

Who is Dr Nikki Alexander? Brought up in South Africa, Nikki chose to stay in England following her parents' death and joined the Lyell team all the way back in 2004. Curious and open-minded, she can be impetuous, but always rises to the challenge when she's up against it. Since first joining the team, Nikki has grown into a skilled and confident pathologist – and she has dealt with a lot of extremely challenging situations, including saving Jack's life in season 16.

After sharing a kiss with Jack at the end of season 24 and their relationship growing in season 25, the pair are a fully-fledged couple in this new season. We can expect the couple to be battling dilemmas, as well as balancing their natural workaholic natures – and we can't wait.

What else has Emilia Fox been in? Fox first rose to prominence following her turn in Roman Polanski's 2002 film The Pianist and went on to land a number of big-screen roles including The Soul Keeper, 3 Blind Mice and The Republic of Love. Small-screen credits in addition to her long-running Silent Witness stint include roles on Merlin, Delicious and The Trial of Christine Keeler.

David Caves plays Jack Hodgson

Who is Jack Hodgson? Straight-talking and quick-witted, Jack is the Lyell Centre’s talented and head-strong lead forensic scientist. Guided by his instincts, he relishes a challenge and is confident in his own ability. He possesses the humility to admit his mistakes, but not before ruffling a few feathers. Season 26 will further explore his relationship with Nikki.

In an interview with the BBC, Hodgson revealed that the pair are "in a good place", saying: "We always wanted it to be a positive relationship and not become a bickering, conflict-ridden thing."

What else has David Caves been in? Although best known for his role as Jack – who he has played since 2013 – Caves has also appeared in the film Jackie, and has a number of theatre credits to his name, including a critically-acclaimed turn as Petruchio for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Taming of the Shrew in 2011.

Alastair Michael plays Velvy Schur

Who is Velvy Schur? Schur is the Lyell’s new APT (anatomical pathology technologist) trainee, who comes recommended by Clarissa Mullery. He's recently left his Orthodox Jewish community and he's set to go through his fair share of journeys in this new season.

Speaking about the new role, Michael said in an interview with the BBC: "He has just left his Orthodox Jewish community, and so he's on a personal journey towards finding a place for himself in a new secular world and figuring out who he is and who his new friends are. He is also trying to figure out how he can still be connected to where he's come from. I think his journey is a lot about trying to balance those exciting new elements with the things that make him who he is."

What else has Alastair Michael been in? Michael is best known for his roles in Ridley Road and Snatch.

Aki Omoshaybi plays Gabriel Folukoya

Who is Gabriel Folukoya? An academic, neurologist and pathologist who has spent much of his career in innovative research, primarily in the field of data analysis.

Speaking about the role, Omoshaybi said: "We find Gabriel at a juncture in his life, realising that it’s possible to marry those two sides. He has to understand he’s dealing with humans, and not just computer screens. His new colleagues have to coax him out of his comfort zone. And during the series, he learns how to compromise a bit."

What else has Aki Omoshaybi been in? The actor has starred in The Pursuit of Love, Queens of Mystery and REAL.

Rhiannon May plays Cara Connelly

Who is Cara Connelly? Cara is Jack's niece who is returning in season 26 as a more regular character. She arrives unexpectedly from Belfast to announce she is starting a university course in Criminology.

Speaking about her bigger role in season 26, May said: "It's exciting that the BBC and Silent Witness want to show a wonderful deaf character. They want to show her in lots of different lights and take the opportunity to show a lot of different kinds of ways of communicating."

What else has Rhiannon May been in? May has previously starred in Silent Witness and has also appeared in The Riley Sisters.

Silent Witness season 26 guest stars

Season 26 The Penitent cast

• Sophia Myles (A Discovery of Witches) plays Laine Cassidy - National Crime Agency boss who is tasked with investigating Italian organised crime group the Ndrangheta in the city of London.
• Matteo Carlomagno (Signora Volpe) plays Stephen Ross - a mafia middleman who is in grave danger.
• Issy Knopfler (Before We Die) plays Serena Ross - Stephen's daughter. She pretends to be one of Nikki's students.
• William Willoughby (House of the Dragon) plays Anthony Drinkwater - an investment banker who falls to his death.
• Brett Allen (EastEnders) plays Eddie - a builder carrying out work on Jack's house. He is not what he initially seems.

Season 26 Familiar Faces cast

• Nadine Marshall (Sherwood) plays DI Sarah Torres
• Maisie Ayres as Maeve Tooney - a young woman who is found dead in the back of a lorry.
• Gus Barry (Hetty Feather) plays Robbie Tooney - Maeve's brother. He recently went missing.
• Lucy Black (The Durrells) plays Kerry Tooney - Maeve and Robbie's mum.
• Maria Forrester (Doctors) plays Ketevan Gvazava - a Georgian woman who is discovered in the back of the same lorry as Maeve. She is taken to hospital, where she eventually wakes up.
• Kate Bracken (Shetland) plays Lucy Stevens - another woman who is found in the back of the lorry. Like Ketevan, she is alive when the police discover her and is taken to hospital.
• Josh Coombes (Country Lines) plays Will Sturton - a young man with an extensive criminal record that includes drug dealing and shoplifting.
• Eoin Lynch (Fair City) plays Marcus Tillman - a drug dealer who was driving the lorry.
• Kate Robbins (After Life) plays Bev - she co-owned a nursery with Marcus.
• Sophia Carlo (The Undeclared War) plays Natia Beridze - one of the women who was found in the lorry.
• Ranhee Yoo plays Maya Park - she was in a relationship with Natia.
• Muna Otaru (Broken) plays Sheila Shaw - her young son needs a heart transplant.
• Nicole Sloane (Home Fires) plays Nurse Vi Froggat
• Jack Ryder (EastEnders) plays Frank Turner - one of the staff members at the halfway house where Will is living.
• Helene Maksoud (Coronation Street) plays Dr Bashir
• Aaron Garland plays the teenager who first discovers the abandoned lorry at the quarry.

Season 26 Star cast

• Lewis Griffiths (Isolation the Series) plays Jay Prain - a businessman and former influencer who is found dead at a musical festival.
• Hannah Rae (Broadchurch) plays Star/Fiona Mendes - a person of interest in the investigation. Did she kill Jay?
• Bella Maclean plays Sara Mendes - Fiona's sister.
• Amy Marston (The Hello Girls) plays Amy Nystrom - the CEO of the festival.
• Meena Rayann (Warrior Nun) plays DI Zara Abbas
• Alastair Natkiel (Line of Duty) plays Gary Brandon and Daisy May Wood (War of the Worlds) plays Julie Switzoff - Jay's body was discovered in their tent.
• Jemma Moore (Two Doors Down) plays Mia Falshaw and Craig Miller (Professor T) plays Sean Jones - Jay's employees, who are questioned by the police.
• Rebecca Johnson (The Trip) plays Lucy Jenkins - Fiona and Sara's mum.
• Julie Legrand (Footballers' Wives) plays Harriet Pugh - she runs a rehabilitation facility.
• Bronte Terrell (Hollyoaks) plays Abby Prain - Jay's wife.
• Pooja Shah (EastEnders) plays Usha Jakhar - an agency nurse.
• Christopher Staines (Quiz) plays John Davenport - one of Stars customers.
• William Frazer (Almost Never) plays DS Trent
• Darragh Hand plays Kai Locke - another festival goer who is questioned by the police.
• Anjela Lauren Smith (EastEnders) plays Maggie Locke - Kai's mum.
• Aislin McGuckin (Normal People) plays Aoife - Jack's sister and Cara's mum.

Season 26 Hearts of Darkness cast

• Aislin McGuckin (Normal People) plays Aoife - Jack's sister and Cara's mum.
• Kirsty Hoiles (Rebel Cheer Squad - A Get Even Series) plays Hannah Coles - the mayor who pushed through the high speed rail development.
• Nicholas Gleaves (The Rising, Coronation Street) plays Bob Stratton - a wealthy local resident who has donated the land his estate stands on to the rail development project.
• Dinita Gohil (Treason) plays Bela Nasir - a spirited journalist.
• Edward Bennett (COBRA) plays Malcolm Coles - Hannah's husband.
• Anna Burnett (Ripper Street) plays Frankie Stratton - Bob's daughter and member of a local environmental protest group.
• Jemma Redgrave (Doctor Who, Holby City) plays DI Jill Raymond
• Joseph Beattie (Hollyoaks) and Waj Ali (Carnival Row) play Trevor Taylor and Anthony Barzani - members of Frankie's protest group.
• Rosina Carbone (Gentleman Jack) plays DSI Jennie Gibbs.
• Janet Kumah (Chemistry of Death) plays DS Donna Chainey.
• Tom Christian (The Royals) plays Philip Stratton - Bob's son.
• Nick Bartlett (The Nevers) plays John Pryor - one of the local protestors and an army sergeant.
• Umi Myers plays Emma Pryor - John's daughter.

Season 26 Southbay cast

• Richard Cordery (The Crown) plays Bill Burnett - a former colleague of Jack's, who is retiring.
• Melissa Batchelor (UGetMe) plays Carol Laing - she was murdered and found dead in her bed.
• Luke Allen-Gale (Van der Valk) plays Sergeant Mike Laing - Carol's ex-husband. They have two children together.
• Leo Hatten (Queens) plays Kate Freeman - a police officer and Mike's partner. She becomes a key suspect.
• Shane Attwooll (The Trouble with Maggie Cole) plays DS Ray Palmer
• Sarah Woodward (Professor T) plays Commander Bridget Laing - the victim was her daughter-in-law.
• Joshua Hill (Life After Life) plays DI Andrew Walsh - a close friend of the Laing family.
• Scarlett Brookes (Kiri) plays Lisa Walsh - Andrew's brother.
• Krupa Pattani (Hollyoaks) plays DC Meena Puri
• Louie Mynett and Dylan Mynett play Dom and Ryan Laing - Carol and Mike's children.
• Suzanne Packer (Casualty) plays Miriam Harper - Kate's legal representative.
• Oliver Huntingdon (Happy Valley) plays Wes Carter - a local man who is questioned in connection with the case.
• Jamie Kenna (Coronation Street) plays Neil Carter - Wes's uncle.
• Charles Abomeli (The Undeclared War) plays Alan Webb - a senior member of the police force.
• Raid Matwi plays PC Fred Woods

Silent Witness airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC One. Check out what else is on with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our Drama hub for all the latest news and features.

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