Silent Witness season 29 cast: New and returning characters in BBC crime drama

Silent Witness has returned to our screens with season 29 – and there’s been a major change, with the team relocating from London to Birmingham to set up a new centre of forensics.

But while the location has changed, viewers will be pleased to hear that the cast looks largely the same, with the main four players back on our screens to tackle a new run of cases.

This includes Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander and David Caves as her husband and colleague Jack Hodgson, as well as Maggie Steed as Harriet and Fran Mills as Kit, while there’s also a string of new guest stars this season.

The next two episodes of the series, which were initially due to air last week but were postponed until Tuesday (17th February) and Wednesday (18th February), comprise a two-part story titled The Enemy Within.

The plot of the episodes centres on the forensics team as they examine a deadly stabbing in Birmingham.

Wondering who’s returning and who’s new in season 29? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast.

Silent Witness season 29 cast: Who's returning?

The main cast of Silent Witness is as follows:

• Emilia Fox plays Nikki Alexander
• David Caves plays Jack Hodgson
• Maggie Steed plays Harriet Maven
• Francesca Mills plays Kit Brooks

For more about the major players in Silent Witness season 29, read on...

Emilia Fox plays Nikki Alexander

Who is 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 seasons 25, 26 and 27, Nikki eventually overcame her doubts about marriage and tied the knot with Jack in a low-key ceremony.

"I don't think she was reticent about Jack at all," Fox told RadioTimes.com. "I think she was reticent about what marriage means – how one makes that commitment, and whether you do it with all the pomp and ceremony of a big wedding, or choose something more intimate.

"So it was about stripping it back to what marriage meant to her and to them, and he understood that – and that gave us something to play."

Fox also said that it was an interesting idea that, for Nikki, "she could explain the science of the body and every organ within it and its function, and yet you can't explain emotions".

"And what a complex idea that is for scientists and how they deal with it," she added. "So this present series sees them settling into marriage and into a new life in Birmingham, and all that brings."

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 a 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 isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers when necessary.

In the season 27 finale, Jack finally proposed to Nikki, and they got married in the season 28 finale – although they didn't have the big wedding Jack initially wanted, favouring something simple instead.

"Jack and Nikki are settling into a new home in Birmingham and getting used to The Bowman Centre, trying to find a bit of balance," said Hodgson.

"Jack is still the same stubborn, sarcastic fella, just with a bit more self-awareness. He's older and more mature. He's more affected by the trials and tribulations of his work and we see that play out majorly in this series. Jack is really tested in one story, a very personal odyssey he must go on alone."

Fox also teased some "big storylines" for jack in this series.

"There's a story later in the series that's just really raw - not flashy, just honest," said Caves. "Those are the ones that stick with me."

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.

Maggie Steed plays Harriet Maven

Who is Harriet Maven? "The character has taken a big step to move to another city, Birmingham – which they all have – so they're all a bit apprehensive," said Steed, whose character heads up the team.

"She continues to try to do her best for the rest of the team and is fiercely loyal to them and would defend them to the deaths. She's a very forthright, witty woman and she continues to be that and is very committed to the team. She's there to make sure everything runs well and is efficient and maintains all its principles. She would also defend them if they ever got into trouble because sometimes the work is dangerous."

What else has Maggie Steed been in? You might have watched her in EastEnders, Shine on Hervey Moon, Pie in the Sky, Born and Bred, Chewing Gum and Ten Percent.

Francesca Mills plays Kit Brooks

Who is Kit Brooks? A crime analyst who joined the team shortly after Harriet.

"I think the viewers will see Kit really anchored in her way of working and feeling more confident in her ability to solve complicated crimes, she spent a lot of last year trying to prove herself worthy to be in the room of legends like Nikki Alexander and Harriet Maven so this year she really finds her flow and, alongside Jack, their friendship grows and they work really well together in the new building," said Mills.

What else has Francesca Mills been in? You might know her from Harlots, Worzel Gummidge, Pistol and The Witcher: Blood Origin.

Silent Witness season 29 new guest cast

Episodes 1 and 2 - The Disappearance of Alice Hill

• Sophie Hopkins (Class) plays Alice Hill - she ran a successful online personal training business with her husband. Alice disappeared several years ago while out jogging. Her body was eventually discovered in some woodland.
• Dino Fetscher (Under Salt Marsh, Fool Me Once) plays Jason Webb - Alice's husband. He was convicted of her murder and has spent the last few years in prison.
• Philip Cumbus (The Spanish Princess) plays Richard Mazar - Jason's solicitor.
• Nathan Wright (Doctors) plays Steve Gantry - Alice was having an affair with him.
• Zita Sattar (Casualty, The Worst Witch) plays DCI Jilly Bashir.
• Mollie Winnard (Happy Valley, All Creatures Great and Small) plays DI Claire Ferris.
• Adam Rayner (Superman and Lois, Tyrant) plays Gary Booth - a hitman who goes on the run in episode 1.
• Evie McGuire (Casualty) plays Kerry Booth - Gary's daughter. She's in rehab.
• Jason Done (Waterloo Road, Where the Heart Is) plays Sgt Robert Andrews - a custody sergeant.
• Jane Slavin (Coronation Street, Always and Everyone) plays Lois Hill - Alice's mum.
• Tony Gardner (My Parents Are Aliens, Last Tango in Halifax, Fresh Meat) plays Ron Hill - Alice's dad.
• Oliver Nicholas (London Kills) plays Adam Hill - Alice's brother
• Nancy Farino (Anatomy of a Scandal) plays Saskia Hill - Alice's sister.
• Laura Pitt-Pulford (Emmerdale) plays Suzie Clemence - the former partner of a man killed by Gary.
• Levi Brown (This Town, Girl Taken) plays PC Nesbit.
• Lesley Moloney (The Inside Man) plays Home Secretary.
• Benjamin Lok (This England) plays Feng - he runs an illegal gambling operation.

Episodes 3 and 4 - Creekwood

• Alexander Joseph (Odd Squad) plays young Tommo - the young boy who's institutionalised at the start.
• David Webber (Hard Truths) plays adult Tommo - he spends his time volunteering at the food bank.
• Will Close (Dalgliesh) plays young Dr Dankford - he performed a lobotomy on Tommo when he was a boy.
• Lydia Wilson (Flack, Ripper Street) plays DI Ashley Moss.
• Joe Barber (Shardlake, Coma) plays Ryan - he's caught running from the crime scene at the start. Ryan is homeless and bipolar.
• Yasmin Davies (Maryland) plays Erin - Ryan's friend. She becomes increasingly concerned about his mental health.
• Cat Simmons (The Bill, The Holiday) plays Adele - she's pregnant. Adele was best friends with Ashley growing up, but they no longer have a relationship.
• Mark Stobbart (55 Degrees North, The Hunt for Raoul Moat) plays Danny - Adele's partner. They are currently squatting, but Danny is trying to find a place for them to live.
• Rachel Atkins (The Archers) plays Barbara - a friend of Arthur, the old man who is found dead.
• Nichola Burley (Protection, The Gold) plays Lydia - Arthur's daughter.
• Lorna Nickson-Brown (The Jetty) plays Rose - Danny's mum.
• Chris Gordon (Hollyoaks, The Crown) plays Vincent - he runs a food bank.
• Rasmus Hardiker (Krypton) as an estate agent.
• Seisha Butler plays a chemist.
• Joseph Long (Ashes to Ashes) plays Gino - Danny's boss at the restaurant.
• Megan Cusack (Call the Midwife) pkays Niamh - she stumbled across Arthur's body while looking for scrap metal.
• Alan Williams (Father Brown, The Capture) plays Terrence - Danny's dad.

Episodes 5 and 6 - The Enemy Within

• George Harris (he's a stunt performer by trade) plays Alex Nelson - he's found dead, with stab wounds.
• Phaldut Sharma (EastEnders, Unforgotten) as Hamza Ahmed - he's arrested on suspicion of Alex's murder.
• Nikolaos Brahimllari (Gangs of London) plays Zolly - he strikes up a conversation with Jack at the gym and introduces him to his friends, who say they’ve formed a group centred on patriotism.
• George Somner (Sex Education) plays Gary and Tom McCall (Doctors) plays Steve - part of the group alongside Zolly.
• Cameron Jack (Emmerdale) plays Billy Krupka - a detective sergeant who is also part of the group.
• Selin Hizli (Grantchester, Am I Being Unreasonable?) plays DI Kayla Baran.
• Gerard Kearns (Shameless) plays DC Jonno Magath.
• Jonas Khan (Hollyoaks) plays Destan Baran - DI Baran's partner.
• Natalie Cutler as the estate agent
• Bhasker Patel (Emmerdale) plays Imran - he runs a a Pakistani restaurant that was the target of an arson attack.
• Rosanna Adams (Lockerbie) plays Thermis - a friend of Alex Nelson's.
• Jake Hagan plays Sparky - a video in which he's inciting racial violence is circulating online.
• Robert Rhodes (28 years Later: The Bone Temple) plays Ross Woolneigh - he's arrested by the police.
• Rachel Adedeji (Hollyoaks) play Lucinda Conway - she helps Kit track down a social media post.
• Narinder Uppal playa Sveta - Nikki and Jack's neighbour.

Silent Witness seasons 1-28 are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

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