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

Emilia Fox and David Caves return for the 29th season of the long-running forensic crime drama, but who joins them?

Published: Monday, 16 February 2026 at 5:10 pm

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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.

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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:

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

Emilia Fox plays Nikki Alexander

Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander in Silent Witness, wearing a blue jacket over a floral blouse, standing in front of a wall with graffiti on it and looking at the camera.

Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander in Silent Witness. BBC Studios

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

David Caves as Jack Hodgson in Silent Witness dressed in a grey jumper and brown jacket

David Caves as Jack Hodgson in Silent Witness. BBC Studios/Robert Wilson

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

Maggie Steed plays Harriet Maven, standing in the main off at the Lyell

Maggie Steed as Harriet Maven in Silent Witness. BBC Studios/Chris Baker

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

Francesca Mills plays Kit Brooks, wearing white, sat in a wheelchair at her desk

Francesca Mills as Kit Brooks in Silent Witness. BBC Studios/Chris Baker

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

A woman with short curly hair wearing a dark coat stands outdoors at night, lit by blue light, with blurred figures in the foreground and a brick wall behind her.

Zita Sattar as Jilly Bashir in Silent Witness. BBC/Ben Gregory-Ring

Episodes 3 and 4 - Creekwood

A woman sits at a desk in a modern indoor space with a brick wall behind her. She wears a brown blazer and has her hair pulled back, holding a pen over an open notebook. Her elbow rests on the desk and her hand touches her chin as she looks off to the side, appearing thoughtful. A red chair and blurred foreground objects frame the scene.

Lydia Wilson as DI Ashley Moss in Silent Witness. BBC

Episodes 5 and 6 - The Enemy Within

A woman with dark shoulder-length hair sits in an orange armchair against a brick wall background. She appears distressed and vulnerable, looking slightly downward with a sad expression. There is a rectangular medical dressing on her right cheek and her right hand is wrapped in a white bandage. She is wearing a loose, light grey sweatshirt and matching sweatpants, with her arms folded protectively across her body. The setting has warm lighting and an industrial-style interior with exposed brick.

Selin Hizli as DI Kayla Baran in Silent Witness. BBC Studios

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

Add Silent Witness to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

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