Silent Witness cast and creatives tease Amanda Burton's return as Sam and what's next for Nikki and Jack in thrilling 25th anniversary series

• Quick Facts About Silent Witness
• Emilia Fox - Dr Nikki Alexander
• Amanda Burton - Professor Sam Ryan
• David Caves - Jack Hodgson
• Genesis Lynea - Dr Simone Tyler
• Lawrence Till - Executive Producer
• Nick Lambon - Producer

BBC One's hugely popular drama Silent Witness celebrates its 25th series with the dramatic return of Amanda Burton as Sam Ryan.

The longest-running crime drama currently airing on TV returns with six thrilling new episodes, opening in Liverpool with an assassination attempt and Sam Ryan calling on the Lyell team with a plea for help seventeen years after leaving the Lyell.

Sam seeks to usher in democratic health care, but the shooting of the Health Secretary and Sam's husband pulls Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox), Jack Hodgson (David Caves) and Simone Tyler (Genesis Lynea) into a world of duplicity, intrigue and betrayal.

When the credibility of DNA testing is challenged, the bedrock of forensic science is called into question. Now uncertain of who or what they can trust, the Lyell team's investigation draws them into confrontations with echoes of their personal histories, which threaten to unravel their present.

Silent Witness has been hugely successful, with average audiences of over seven million per week and has been one of BBC iPlayer's most-requested shows.

Silent Witness is a BBC Studios production for BBC One. Executive Producers are Lawrence Till, Priscilla Parish, Caroline Levy, Emilia Fox and Ed Whitmore for BBC Studios and Jo McClellan for BBC One. Nick Lambon produces. BBC Studios handle global distribution. Past series of Silent Witness are available to catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

GJ

Quick Facts About Silent Witness

• Over 200 episodes have been produced during its incredible 25 year run with 6 brand new episodes airing in May 2022
• Over the last 12 months Silent Witness was the 3rd biggest drama on BBC iPlayer behind EastEnders and Line of Duty.
• Emilia Fox's first appearance as Nikki Alexander was in the episode Nowhere Fast in Series 8, before becoming a permanent fixture at the Lyell Centre
• Amanda Burton makes a return to series 25 and first appeared in the lead role of pathologist Sam Ryan in 1996, starring in 54 episodes before leaving in 2004
• David Caves is Forensic Scientist Jack Hodgson and joined the series in 2013
• Genesis Lynea is Forensic Ecologist Simone Tyler and joined the team in 2021
• Silent Witness is enjoyed in 235 territories worldwide including - Australia - ABC and BBC First, US- BritBox, Germany- ZDF, Sweden SVT
• The first episode aired 21st February 1996
• The series has featured appearances from Idris Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daisy Ridley, Nicholas Hoult, Jack Dee, Tamsin Egerton, Jason Watkins, Emily Mortimer, Jodie Comer, Martin Compston, Daniel Kaluuya
• Four new writers have been given the opportunity to write for this series - their first high-end TV writing credit

Emilia Fox - Dr Nikki Alexander

How does it feel to be celebrating the 25th series of Silent Witness?

Can you believe it? It's wonderful. I feel very proud of the show and very lucky still be part of it on its 25th birthday. It's a great privilege.

How is the show marking the anniversary?

By bringing back Amanda Burton as Sam Ryan. What better way to celebrate than with her return? It's been such a joyous experience. I met Amanda when we did a joint interview on the 20th anniversary of Silent Witness. She spoke so movingly about what the show meant to her. She got very emotional - which I found very emotional, too. Listening to her was like holding up a mirror to how I felt about the show. It was so fitting for the show and lovely for me that Amanda came back.

How does it feel to have Sam Ryan return for this landmark series?

It's wonderful that we're celebrating with Amanda. We wouldn't be where we are today without her. It's her legacy we live with. Sam is such a pioneering figure. Back then, female leads were few and far between. Going into Silent Witness, I felt that there was no way I could take over from Amanda, but the producers said, "Don't worry, we'll take it in a different direction." The thing I feel so proud about is the way the show has evolved. But it all started with Amanda and Sam Ryan

What does Amanda bring to the show?

She's such a terrific actress. She put on Sam Ryan's shoes and walked straight on set without a moment's hesitation.

What was it like having to do a post-mortem in front of Amanda?

Nerve-racking! She is the Empress of the post-mortem, so the pressure was on. I made sure I was very, very well prepared. The post-mortems tax my brain, and I'm always delighted to get through them. But this time I had Sam interrupting all the time. That creates great character moments.

Where do we find Nikki at the start of episode one?

We follow on from the end of series 24 and Nikki has spent the night at Jack's house, it's the beginning of their relationship. She gets a call from Sam asking for help and Nikki is trying to work out why she's specifically asked the Lyell team. Sam's company is working on health passporting, which is such a big subject in real life at the moment.

How does Nikki react to Sam?

They tread carefully around each other. At one point in the first episode, Sam intervenes during a post-mortem that Nikki is doing. Nikki is trying to get the measure of Sam and fathom her out. Amanda is so skilled at playing mystery, I loved the scenes we had together.

Viewers were treated to a highly anticipated kiss between Nikki and Jack at the end of the last series. Can we expect more romance in this series?

The kiss begged the question of why these two people who have worked together for so long and love each other and are single were not already having a relationship. It threw up many questions. How do friends transition to a relationship? Does that relationship dominate everything? How does it work alongside the job? What happens if it goes wrong? What happens if they are in conflict? The lovely thing is that the audience have wanted Jack and Nikki to be together. It's great that they have invested so much in that relationship.

Have you and David Caves talked about it a lot?

Yes. We wanted to play Jack and Nikki adapting to the transition and going through ups and downs. That's something the audience will enjoy without putting a label on it. Do they maintain their romance? You'll have to wait and see!

What is the standout moment for you in this series?

Meeting Amanda, of course! Also filming in Liverpool was an absolute treat. I'd never been before and I really enjoyed it.

What do you think is the reason for the show's continued success?

The DNA of the show is crime stories, and the way people commit and solve crimes. But it also incorporates very topical stories like health passports and challenging stories like domestic abuse. We are not afraid of that - the show can take it. It is very inclusive, diverse and relevant as well. It gives us the chance to talk about subjects that people generally steer clear of. It allows viewers to discuss them from the safety of their own sofas. Silent Witness has something for everyone. It also attracts great guest stars!

Do you still adore being part of the show?

Absolutely. I love it as much as ever. From day one, I've always said I'll stay as long as I enjoy it, and I still really enjoy it. The audience and I have been through a lot together. I never take for granted the privilege of being part of Silent Witness. Now that I'm also an executive producer, I really value it as part of my personal life as much as my professional life. It's had a huge impact on me.

Would you still like to be playing Nikki in 25 years' time?

I don't know if they'd still want me! I'll be lucky if they're still inviting me back when I'm 692! Still, they've just had Amanda back. Long may it last that they keep asking us back!

Amanda Burton - Professor Sam Ryan

What appealed to you about returning to Silent Witness as Sam Ryan?

The shock! It's wonderful to be very surprised sometimes. Genuinely, these things don't often come one's way. I just thought, "What a great idea! How brilliant that they're thinking of doing that!" I thought the storyline was quite bold and I really liked that. After meeting the producers, I just loved what they were thinking for Sam, I was very much on their wavelength. It was such an attractive idea and I would have been absolutely mad not to do it!

Did it feel like coming home in a way?

Yes, it did. It was genuinely a really, lovely thing to step into Sam's shoes again and to catch up with who she is now and where she is in her life. I loved the fact that she was still very much pioneering and busy and connected - that meant a lot to me. I was very, very happy that she wasn't being tracked down to some sort of remote corner of a British village where she was judging hen competitions!

What trait did you focus on when returning to the character of Sam Ryan?

Her fingerprint in the show is really this blinkered focused energy. She is a very independent thinker. And so that's what I brought to her again. But there are also lots of lovely add-ons in her life. For instance, she's very happy with her partner Jomo Mashaba played by the lovely Hugh Quashie, and they have grown a business together.

Where do we find Sam at the start of the series?

There is a catastrophic event which suddenly puts her life in jeopardy and has a direct impact on her partner's life. And so, you're thrown into this great big washing machine and are wondering what is going to come out of it. Why has Sam chosen to go to the Lyell? Why has she brought this case to them when she could have access to so many different people? So, this lovely mystery, thriller aspect comes into it. I really love the fact that you're left slightly wondering whether she's gone over to the other side. Is she going to take the devil's shilling or is she as self-righteous as she used to be? I just hope audiences really get a kick out of watching her again.

How did you find it working with Emilia?

It was wonderful. Coming together with Emilia, who's held this show together so brilliantly for so many years, was lovely. It was extraordinarily special. To see these two powerful characters working together was amazing. In the script, they call them the two titans of the medical world.

Emilia is just an incredibly generous actress. There was a really nice sense of trust between us. We fed off each other a lot, and there were just genuinely lovely, warm, empathetic responses from both of us. And you don't get that every day.

Do you still have a lot of fans coming up to you in the street asking when Sam is coming back?

That often happens when I'm doing my weekly shop in the supermarket, and I am a bit of a captive audience. 20 bunches of bananas later! We always have a bit of a cackle about that. The fans, of course, are fantastic and keep the show on the road. I hope they're going to really enjoy seeing this because I don't know of any other character or any other show where this has happened before. Equally, we're celebrating 25 series of Silent Witness, it's the longest running crime show in the world, and that is a remarkable achievement.

Why does Sam Ryan remain so popular as a character?

At the time, it was quite unusual to see a woman playing that depth of seriousness, that depth of soulfulness. Her edges were never really rounded off. She was always quite spicy, quite like a terrier. But Sam was a very truthful character, she upheld a lot of things that were very, very important. There was no double dealing with her, she was just incredibly straightforward.

Tell us more.

Sam was this one woman charged with finding the truth in so many of those awful crimes, and at a huge cost to her life. I wouldn't say that she was an unhappy character. I wouldn't like to label her like that at all. It's just that her devotion to her career was like a calling. I suppose that was quite unusual 25 years ago, it wasn't exactly the norm. Also, Sam managed to offset any gore, in Silent Witness, you had this character who led you through the darkness, and you felt safe with her.

Why do you think Silent Witness has lasted so long?

It always has to come from the top, and Emilia is very dedicated. When you have an actor who really cares about a show, that enthusiasm creates an environment where everyone is very focused on producing brilliant drama.

How would you sum up the experience of coming back to Silent Witness?

It proved to be everything that I hoped it would be. It was very, very joyful. I loved Sam's journey, and I loved working with Emilia, David and Genesis and all the guest actors who are in it as well. It was just gorgeous. I mean, it's ridiculous - I get paid for this!

Is there any chance that Sam could come back in another quarter of a century?

You'll just have to ask me in another 25 years. By then Sam really would be judging hen competitions!

David Caves - Jack Hodgson

Tell us how it feels to be celebrating the 25th series of Silent Witness.

It's something else! It's the longest running crime show in the world, with over 200 episodes. That is not something to be sniffed at. Thanks to Amanda for kicking it off and making it stand out, and then to Emilia, who took over and maintained our edge over other shows. People love the characters, the premise, the dynamics. It's hard because the show has to reinvent itself every year. But miraculously we keep tapping into stories that come straight out of the real world. The writers have an uncanny knack of finding stories that are in the news, and that helps ground the show in reality. After 25 seasons, we must be doing something right!

What is happening at the beginning of this series?

It's a clash of the titans between Nikki and Sam. In a cheeky post-credits scene at the end of the last series, Nikki got a call from Sam saying, "we need your help…" So we become involved with Sam, who is now working on her own venture in health passporting. It's a very topical subject. As always, the writers have their fingers on the pulse. Sam is dealing with big tech and big pharma, and we are in over our heads...

How is the romance between Jack and Nikki shaping up?

At the end of the last series, there was a little tease of a kiss between them, which was immediately scuppered by a phone message from a student Nikki had been messing around with. We continue to tease that and keep it ambiguous. We don't want to give away too much too soon. We want people to ask, "what's going to happen next?" We hope people will really start to be invested in that relationship.

How was it working with Amanda?

It was an absolute delight. Having watched her over so many years, it was very surreal. She is so iconic. We are only here because of her. She was the complete guiding light of the show for many generations, and it was a joy to meet her and to work with her.

Did one episode stand out for you?

There is a great episode set in Belfast. Jack's brother is a loose cannon and he's gone AWOL again. We explore the story of Jack's niece in Belfast. It's tricky to talk about without spoiling it, but needless to say, family secrets come out of the closet. The family stuff has been fantastic to play. That's the real heart of the character - without that, it could be rather dry and procedural.

Did you enjoy returning to Belfast?

I hadn't been for six years, and I loved going back. The older I get, the more I miss the city. I didn't really love it when I was younger. Most people wanted to get away back then. But in the past few years, I have felt very nostalgic about Belfast and have seen it through fresh eyes. Thanks to Game of Thrones, Belfast is now an absolute hub of filmmaking. When I was younger, I thought about going to Hollywood - now Hollywood has come to Belfast. We were lucky enough to shoot a scene by the sea over there. It was staggeringly beautiful.

What does the new character of Simone Tyler bring to Silent Witness?

She has youth and she's a breath of fresh air. She brings a fantastic energy. She's really laid-back, but at the same time, she is a very passionate and strong character. She's a forensic ecologist, so she brings a slightly different angle to the show. Genesis is a delight to work with. She's been joyous.

Do you have a favourite moment from this series?

It was fantastic when we arrived in Liverpool by helicopter like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. I was loving my moment of coming out of the chopper. There was a big crowd there who probably thought Tom Cruise was arriving. Unfortunately for them, we got out instead!

Genesis Lynea - Dr Simone Tyler

What attracted you to the role?

I love the fact that Simone is an awkward, nerdy but passionate person who is bringing her skills to the forensic world. It shows the team is willing to explore something new, and it's really exciting to explore that.

What is Simone's background?

She previously worked at the Natural History Museum studying organisms rather than blood. Ecology is the relationship of one organism to another, and forensic ecology is about the recovery and analysis of human remains. There is a nice dynamic between Simone, Nikki and Jack. They all have complementary skills.

How does Simone get on with Nikki and Jack?

With Nikki, there is a sisterly, maternal energy, and with Jack it's brotherly love. Simone doesn't clash with them, but sometimes she alarms them! She is very capable, but a bit direct. It's a really new world for Simone, and she wants to make sure that she is doing the right thing and that everything is just so. She will pursue people to the bitter end to find the truth. She's very competent, but I also wanted to show more of her vulnerability in the hurricane of events. She's not just a scientist, she is a beautifully complex human being.

What is her big storyline in this series?

Simone's back story comes back and bites her on the nose. Does she ignore it and shove it under the carpet, or face it even though it really hurts? I'm glad she goes towards the pain. She is replaying incidents from her past which explain who she is today. It's heavy, but it's great that we can do that on Silent Witness.

Why is the show still so popular?

Silent Witness has very current storylines, but it also has great character arcs. Nikki, Jack and Simone are all battling something from the past. It's not just a crime drama.

Did it feel a pressure coming into the show?

Yes. Once I saw my name on my trailer, I realised the gravity of the job. People were saying to me, "I love Silent Witness." It's instilled in British culture. People grew up with it. It's a great responsibility to carry that torch, but I accept it and I love it. You need a bit of pressure. You don't go forward by doing things that are easy.

How did you find it working with Amanda?

It was amazing. She was so lovely. We had a few scenes together, and it was wonderful to hear about her experiences on Silent Witness. She has so many layers to her. It was such an honour working with her.

What was it like getting up to speed with the terminology?

It is a culture shock when you join any programme, but with my training on Casualty, I was okay.

Why are these characters' jobs so important?

With an A&E doctor, people are counting on you to save their lives. Here, people are counting on you to redeem their lives. The past is never past unless you rectify it.

What was the most difficult element of the job?

The most challenging part was discussing ecological findings without stumbling on my words. Real forensic ecologists don't struggle to say these things. It was also hard having to work with real pigs' lungs. The smell was disgusting! I thought we would be using fake ones, so I was quite surprised when I turned up and they said we would be dealing with real ones. Luckily, Simone didn't like them either, so it looked authentic!

What was the standout moment for you?

In the first episode, the way we entered on a chopper was epic. I had never been in a helicopter before, and David and I were screaming like little children. We were beside ourselves with joy. There was a big crowd waiting on the ground, and we felt very important. It was really exciting. What a way to make an entrance

Lawrence Till - Executive Producer

What was Amanda's reaction when you pitched the return of Sam Ryan to her?

We didn't really know how much she'd want to do. We thought that maybe she'd just come in and do a couple of episodes. But when we decided to tell one story over six episodes, she said, "Oh yes, I'd love to do all of that." Obviously, it's an enormous delight for the audience and the response to her brief return at the end of series 24, when she asked the Lyell for help, was great, so we thought, "Okay, yes, the audience is up for this." Hopefully, it doesn't feel regressive. It feels like a proper evolution. The two ends of the series meet to tell us a story about the basis of pathology and forensic science, because that's what's challenged in this series.

How did fans respond when they heard Sam was coming back?

They were just so excited. People have been so committed to Sam Ryan over the years. There are a lot of super fans who know every episode, much better than Nick Lambon, the producer or I do because they study them in depth. I've got a film student doing their final year university dissertation on Silent Witness who sent me a series of questions the other day. One of the things over the history of the show is that it has inspired a lot of female scientists. Lots of people on Twitter say, "This is me. Silent Witness prompted me to want to follow a career in science." They cite Sam or Nikki as the reason why they first wanted to be scientists. That's incredibly valuable. It's fantastic to see that the show can have a bonus like that.

Why has Silent Witness been so successful for so long?

One of the reasons why the show has worked so well is because it has had to keep up with the development of technology. There have been huge shifts in forensic science since 1996. So many of our stories now are based around the internet, CCTV, the proliferation of DNA databases - things that weren't there when the show began. I think that's been important to the success of Silent Witness. The other thing is the show's defining philosophy is how we take care of people after death, they're not just an object on a slab. We are invited to meet the remaining family to discover more about the dead person, I think there's a big dignity element to this show. It works in our favour to develop stories where the audience inevitably care, that's why people stay. Initially, they come for the crime, but it's caring about the characters that makes them really commit to the show.

The show's popularity is also due to its terrific female leads, isn't it?

Absolutely. Everyone has different favourites. Nikki has been a great fan favourite for a long period of time, and Sam and Clarissa have been hugely popular as well. I think having those strong women leading stories has been important for the maintenance of the show's success. Also, it's not just a show that's been around for 25 years, it's a show that attracts consistently high audiences of 7 and 8 million viewers. That's a great volume of people for a show that has been around all this time.

Do you think the show can last for another quarter of a century?

Absolutely. It will need to keep reinventing itself, but I think the show will survive for a very long time indeed.

Nick Lambon - Producer

It is great to have Sam Ryan back, but there is some ambiguity surrounding her return, isn't there?

Yes. I think the fact that she has not been in it for 17 years is a tremendous advantage because as the story develops, you realise that because you haven't seen her for such a long time, you're not quite sure where she is. She clearly knows more than she's letting on from the second she appears on screen. That is part of the mystery and the drama of it really. Is she ahead of us? Is she involved in this? It's impossible to read her. And that's an enjoyable bit of the series as you as you play it through. If Sam had left last week or she was exactly the same, I don't think that would have sustained for six hours. But you're not quite sure about her. You're trying to catch up with where she's been and with what's happened to her. That is that is part of the fun of it.

Why is the show still so well loved after a quarter of a century?

There's an extraordinary flexibility to the writers, directors and producers who make the show. Of course, there is always a body, and we always do a post-mortem, but, if you watch the series, every episode is very varied and very different. A lot of crime shows feel very formulaic. But if you watch any two episodes of Silent Witness back-to-back, you can't believe they're from the same series. I think that's very clever. The audience also love knowing that eventually they're going to catch whoever did it. There is that comfort factor which is a big thing in all crime genres. I think there's also something that allows Silent Witness to keep regenerating and reinventing itself, that's why the audience tune in and think, "I know this week's episode will feel completely different from last week's". That's great.

Why are both Sam and Nikki such popular characters?

They are both such independent women and the audience sees them as incorruptible. I expect the biggest reaction to come in this series will be during the moments where both characters appear to cross lines, and don't tell the truth or reveal what they know straight away. But in general, if you look at how audiences watch the stories, they love the fact that Sam and Nikki are going to fight to get to the truth. If that means they must distance themselves from absolutely everyone else in the world, then they'll do it. That's what makes Sam's return to the screen so compelling. You feel like she's been off doing extraordinary things, and now she's back to search for the truth.

Do you think Silent Witness will still be around in another 25 years?

Why not? Goodness only knows what the advances in forensic technology will be and what speed it will be progressing at. I don't know whether you'll still be able to tell a story over two hours if there's a special computer that can solve the mystery in five minutes. But I can't see a reason why the show itself wouldn't keep going. After all, it's still getting huge audiences. Whether I'll still be doing the job in 25 years is another matter. Having said that, my diary is free in 2047! I haven't taken a job for that year yet!