Silent Witness Returns with a Birmingham Reset in February 2026

 

Image BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

First look images have been released as Silent Witness prepares to return to the BBC in February 2026, marking a major new chapter for the long running crime drama. The upcoming series shifts its home base to Birmingham and brings with it a fresh setting, new energy, and an impressive line up of guest stars.

The doors of The Sir William Bowman Centre of Excellence in Birmingham will officially open on Monday 2 February, as Silent Witness arrives on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The move places the forensic team in a new city, with the series both set and filmed in Birmingham for the first time.

The show returns with five new stories told across ten episodes. Dr Nikki Alexander, played by Emilia Fox, is back alongside Jack, Harriet and Kit, portrayed by David Caves, Maggie Steed and Fran Mills. Together, they face what are described as some of their most challenging and demanding cases yet, testing both their professional skills and personal resilience.

This series also features a strong guest cast. Names joining the show include Lydia Wilson, Chris Reilly, Ben Batt, Vinette Robinson, Selin Hizli, Gerard Kearns, Adam Rayner, Phaldut Sharma, Dino Fetscher, Cat Simmons, Chris Coghill and Mollie Winnard, bringing a wide range of familiar faces from across British television.

Silent Witness will air on Mondays and Tuesdays, streaming on BBC iPlayer and broadcasting on BBC One from Monday 2 February. The series is produced by BBC Studios Drama for the BBC, with Suzi McIntosh serving as executive producer for BBC Studios, Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC, and Emilia Fox also acting as executive producer. Seán Gleeson is producer, with BBC Studios handling global sales.

With a new location, fresh cases and a broad guest cast, Silent Witness looks set to begin its Birmingham era with confidence when it returns early next year.