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S29 E10 · Shame (2)
Silent Witness is a drama and crime TV series that premiered on BBC One on February 21, 1996. It has 29 seasons and 268 episodes so far and is still airing new episodes. The latest episode, Season 29 Episode 10 "Shame (2)", aired on March 3, 2026.
A team of exceptional forensic pathologists and scientists investigate heinous crimes and use their skills to catch the people responsible.
Last updated
268 episodes · 29 seasons
1996 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 30 years ago
E8
Sam tries to persuade her student to reveal where her father is hiding. The tragedy spreads beyond the family, and even the team may be in danger.
E7
Tragedy strikes after a student asks Sam for advice over her arranged marriage, and then sees her family torn apart.
E6
Someone is harassing Sam as evidence of a cover-up mounts, and the bomb squad is called in to deal with a mysterious parcel.
E5
The death of a man in custody seems like a straightforward case, but DS Farmer has concerns about some of her officers.
E4
The police grow frustrated with the lack of a forensic link, but Sam finds more clues in an old case.
E3
When Mark James's decomposing body is discovered, it bears all the signs of a ritualistic killing.
E2
The murder investigation continues and someone breaks into Sam's house. Undeterred, she continues her search for the truth.
E1
Dr Sam Ryan investigates her first case as a police consultant - a tragic case involving the death of a child.
1997 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 29 years ago
E8
Sam's pursuit of her own theories leads her into dangerous places, both personally and professionally.
E7
The police suspect a violent alcoholic of the murder of an elderly woman. Sam clashes with the police when she refuses to support their case.
E6
The murderer makes a direct threat against Sam's life after she uncovers the evidence needed to identify them.
E5
The murder of a married woman who was having an affair seems straightforward. Friction develops between Dr Ryan and the police when the evidence complicates their case.
E4
The police make an arrest, but do they have the right suspect? Sam pursues her own line of investigation.
E3
Stuart Evans is in the advanced stages of Aids when he dies, and his body is donated to science. However a routine toxicology test reveals foul play was at work.
E2
Sam discovers why Kevin entered a bare knuckle fight, as well as uncovering evidence of more foul play in the boxing circuit.
E1
A boxer dies from brain injuries mid-bout. A new DSI takes over the team's investigations. Sam and Wyn bury their mother.
1998 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 28 years ago
E8
Sam looks for connections between Ian Neal and a killing in Northern Ireland in 1985. Meanwhile DI Connor's wife arrives in Cambridge.
E7
The death of a farmer involving a combine harvester seems like an accident - until Sam receives an anonymous tip-off.
E6
Are the deaths linked to a drug war or is this the work of vigilantes? Sam suspects a personal tragedy is at the heart of things.
E5
A tragic scene is discovered when a young mother apparently dies of an overdose. When another addict dies in an explosion, Sam has a bigger case on her hands.
E4
The hunt is on for Mr Harris, but the murderer may be closer to home. Meanwhile, Sam grows closer to surgeon James Reynolds.
E3
A young woman is found dead in an empty house. Why was she there? Sam suspects another person was involved.
E2
The case becomes entangled in Annabelle's romantic relationships when Sam discovers her friend may have had an affair with a student.
E1
Sam must investigate a case with a painful personal connection when a close friend is murdered after the Cambridge May Ball.
1999 · 6 episodes · Last episode: 27 years ago
E6
The identity of Body 10 reveals that a violent criminal may have been wrongly convicted of a murder. Sam and DCI Connor are eager to get the truth.
E5
Sam searches for the identity of a victim of a cinema fire. A medical artist helps her reconstruct the face, but the result causes some embarassment for the police.
E4
Sam challenges the police after an indepenedent postmortem into McNally's apparent suicide. Further deaths take place.
E3
A small-time criminal is the prime suspect in a gangland murder. Sam Ryan believes he may be innocent.
E2
Sam learns that the captain of the helicopter died of a heart attack, but she doesn't think it was the cause of the crash, and with 75 helicopters grounded, accident investigator Tony Newsome needs some answers.
E1
Sam learns that the captain of the helicopter died of a heart attack, but she doesn't think it was the cause of the crash, and with 75 helicopters grounded, accident investigator Tony Newsome needs some answers.
2000 · 6 episodes · Last episode: 25 years ago
E6
A second post-mortem is perfumed on Helen Dupen and, although Sam is obviously ill, she is determined to find more evidence.
E5
A school director's wife commits suicide, but Sam suspects murder. During the investigation, she receives shocking news about her own health.
E4
DCI Norton dismisses Sam's idea that a serial killer is at work - until a third body is found at one of the victim's family homes.
E3
Sam is called in to identify the naked body of a woman uncovered on a ski slope in Norway.
E2
A third death helps Sam realise that the motive behind the murders of the Davies brothers was not racial - but revenge.
E1
Two elderly brothers are found dead in their home, with no apparent injuries. A post mortem discovers suspicious puncture marks and a possible racist connection.
2002 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 23 years ago
E8
As the police investigate the possibility of a copycat killer among the students, a friend from the college pressures Sam to put loyalty above the truth as the case unfolds.
E7
The murder of a probation officer leads the team to the doorstep of a police cadet college, as they quickly establish a link to a similar murder just months before.
E6
As Sam searches for the killer of Marcus Saul, Harry finds himself involved in the tragic death of a student from the medical faculty.
E5
Murder is suspected when the body of a missing person is found hidden within a derelict factory, seven years since he was last seen alive.
E4
A new murder turns DCI Ashton's suspicions toward the victim's family and friends, whilst Harry investigates a death that may be linked to the Irons family.
E3
The police bring in the team when a family is attacked in their own home, leaving the only survivors in critical condition.
E2
Sam, Leo and Harry are at odds with the police investigators when a covert operation is exposed. But has Sam overstepped the mark this time?
E1
Professor Leo Dalton and Dr Harry Cunningham join Sam Ryan in the investigation of a massive traffic accident in which not everything is as it seems.
2003 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 23 years ago
E8
Leo and Harry follow up their leads to discover an alarming truth. Are Sam and her team being used by the Home Office to drive out Peter Sachs in fear of a costly process?
E7
The Home Office ask Sam and her team to examine a number of times of death as given by a highly respected and internationally renowned independent pathologist, Peter Sachs.
E6
Following her discovery of the second body and believing the cases to be linked, Sam is sidelined from the investigation as she attempts to get to the truth.
E5
The body of a young pregnant sports agent is found in the grounds of her office building. Sam and her team uncover a tragic story of money and corruption.
E4
Sam uncovers a crippling truth about her involvement in a 13-year-old case -did she help convict an innocent man?
E3
Sam comes under scrutiny at an official inquiry into two prison deaths and an old case Sam worked on 13 years resurfaces.
E2
Sam delves deeper into the case but is undermined by the findings of an independent pathologist, brought in to conduct a second autopsy.
E1
Sam is called after a suspected terrorist attack causes a fire at a hotel and a government minister is injured.
2004 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 22 years ago
E8
Leo, Harry and Nikki step up their efforts to discover the truth behind the train crash but there are still many unanswered questions.
E7
Leo and his team are approached by a support group to help discover the truth behind a train crash.
E6
Foul play is confirmed when it emerges that both the horse and the helicopter pilot were drugged. Could syndicate member Matt Gibb be responsible?
E5
The death of a jockey during a race becomes more complicated when the horse's owners are killed in a helicopter crash.
E4
Leo hunts for the source of the children's symptoms before any more fatalities occur. Meanwhile Harry discovers the truth behind Nick Garner's death.
E3
Suspicious symptoms afflicting a group of children on the coast may be linked to the death of a local man.
E2
The case takes an interesting turn when the bodies are identified as brothers who disappeared after a police questioning during the Troubles.
E1
The bodies of two young men are discovered, partially exposed, following a landslide on the coast of Northern Ireland.
2005 · 8 episodes · Last episode: 21 years ago
E8
Harry discovers Nazim's death may not have been suicide. Is Dr Sanders the culprit? Meanwhile Leo investigates the murder of a bank manager.
E7
A paranoid schizophrenic goes on a violent frenzy in a busy high street. When a young man from the same care home commits suicide, Nikki is convinced there is a connection.
E6
Nikki's beliefs are put to the test as she realises they are facing murders that are committed for sheer pleasure.
E5
The team is drawn into the investigation of a series of brutal, apparently motiveless murders in the academic world.
E4
The man behind the bloodshed pits both factions against one another and the team are in a race against time.
E3
The team is called to a drive-by shooting outside a London nightclub. They arrive to a scene of carnage with several people dead, or dying.
E2
As the police infiltrate a gang of identity thieves, Leo faces a choice between justice and revenge.
E1
When his wife and teenage daughter are involved in a hit-and-run car crash, Leo begins a painful journey back to his native Sheffield.
2006 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 20 years ago
E10
With Nikki missing, Harry works against the clock to find out who is responsible for the murders and finds himself in a cover-up.
E9
Harry and Nikki are drawn into a war between a medical research establishment and a group determined to take direct action.
E8
When a third killing takes place on school grounds, Leo races to find some connection between the apparently motiveless murders.
E7
Memories of his own daughter's death are stirred up when Leo is called in to investigate the apparent suicide of a teenage girl.
E6
Memories of his own daughter's death are stirred up when Leo is called in to investigate the suicide of a 14-year-old girl.
E5
Harry and Nikki's friendship is rocked by the discovery of the body of Harry's ex-lover.
E4
The team investigate a man who died on a night bus, an office prank gone tragically wrong and the suicide of a pro footballer.
E3
The team investigates a hit-and-run accident, an arson and a woman who collapsed on her hen night.
E2
The team follows the trail of the people traffickers, and has to find any remaining survivors before a highly contagious disease breaks.
E1
When a boat carrying illegal passengers is found crashed in the Thames, the team investigate.
2007 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 19 years ago
E10
Having fallen out both with both the police and Clara's family, Nikki finds herself increasingly alone in her search for the killer.
E9
When the bones of a young girl are found, everyone but Nikki is convinced it's a teenager who went missing two years ago.
E8
Nikki grows increasingly worried that a mistake she made on a case four years ago may have contributed to the murder of a young woman.
E7
Nikki revisits an emotive case from the past when a girl she proved innocent of murder is herself murdered.
E6
With Nikki out of action and Alice's surgical team closing ranks, Harry and Leo dig deeper.
E5
The murder of a John Doe leads the team to a hospital, where Nikki is investigating a top paediatric surgeon with an unusually high mortality rate.
E4
Leo refuses to back down in his search for the killers of the young boy, despite threats and increasing racial tension.
E3
When the mutilated body of a young boy is pulled from the river, Leo is determined to give him an identity and to bring his killers to justice.
E2
Harry suspects the Ministry of Defence may be covering up the true cause of the helicopter crash, but he's determined to get to the truth.
E1
Harry and Nikki are first on the scene when an RAF helicopter crashes, but Harry's search for answers brings him into conflict with the Ministry of Defence.
2008 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 18 years ago
E12
Nikki clashes with Zambian police as she investigates the death of a British medical student.
E11
The team is asked to investigate the death of a British medical student in Zambia.
E10
As the search for Liam continues, Nikki's loyalty towards her former mentor is tested.
E9
When one boy is found dead and another is abducted, the team faces a race against time to find the missing child.
A second Hasidic boy is killed, which convinces Harry they are looking for a Jewish killer.
Harry is drawn into the murder of a Hasidic man found on disused wasteland, while Leo investigates the death of an Australian backpacker.
Nikki faces mounting police hostility to her investigation of the armed raid.
The team investigates an armed raid on a suspected terrorist cell in which two suspects and a police officer are killed.
Harry tangles with a Russian oligarch over the murder of a journalist.
The team investigates the murder of a woman found dumped on the side of the road with her face removed.
Frustration within the team builds as Harry and Nikki struggle to find any useful evidence from the post-mortems to help the police. No one will talk, and they have no leads. Leo worries for Levi, who is sucked further into a world of gangs and violence.
E1
Leo does community service on a rough estate after being done for drink-driving.
2010 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 16 years ago
E10
Nikki is forced to make some hard choices when she discovers that Anton has been less than honest with her.
E9
When a Zimbabwean asylum seeker is unfairly deported to South Africa, Leo needs to find a way to help her return to the UK.
E8
Leo's postmortem of the victims reveals there were two guns used, and possibly a second shooter.
E7
Nikki and Harry try to help wounded victims of a campus shooting while trapped in the building with the rampaging shooter.
E6
With Danielle missing and her lover on the run, Leo and the police struggle to unravel a complex web of deceit.
E5
Leo is concerned that the police are involved with a cover-up to protect a rogue undercover cop linked to the death of a young woman.
The revelation that Flannery's first wife also died of a stair fall sends Harry to Prague to seek evidence to prove the man's guilt. However, Nikki's determination to look beyond the police's blinkered investigation leads to further tragedy.
E3
Harry and Nikki try to remain professional when they find themselves on opposite sides of a high-profile case, but it's not easy as they're both brilliant at what they do, and they soon show that every piece of evidence can be interpreted at least two ways.
E2
Harry puts his career on the line to prove his lover's innocence after Leo is attacked and Levin turns up dead.
E1
Leo comes under suspicion for fraud when an insurance investigator accuses him of falsifying a post-mortem report, and Harry falls for the charms of an attractive former colleague.
2011 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 15 years ago
E10
When the Van Burens' au pair commits suicide, the pathologists start to unravel the truth behind the embassy shootings, and a dark family secret is exposed.
E9
After a major incident at the Dutch Embassy, Harry and Nikki are removed from the case when the Dutch decide to appoint their own pathologist.
E8
With Harry dead and Leo and Nikki getting nowhere with the police, the pathologists struggle to clear Harry's name, while the police seem intent on covering up a wider conspiracy.
When human rights lawyer Anna Sandor calls Harry to Budapest to investigate the death of a client, they start to uncover a sinister underworld conspiracy, putting both their lives in danger.
E6
Having established that Lieutenant Lockford was murdered, Leo makes a startling breakthrough, and the investigation begins to unmask a dark secret at Hillsdon Army Base.
E5
As Nikki investigates the drowning of a young mother, Harry is called to an apparent suicide at a nearby army base; it soon starts to look like the cases may be linked.
E4
Leo investigates a potential copycat killing, but the team are starting to wonder if Karl Bentley was wrongly convicted, leaving the real murderer free to set out on a new killing spree.
E3
Leo finds himself haunted by past memories when he returns to Sheffield after an ancient body is unearthed on Bleaklow Moor.
E2
Nikki's mental instability worsens, and Harry and Leo are forced to get her psychiatric help. But then when the true identity of the murderer is discovered, it becomes a race against time to save Nikki's life.
E1
When the pathologists investigate three suspicious deaths in one night on the same ward, it looks like hospital staff may be behind their murders. Nikki becomes increasingly disturbed by a rape and murder case involving a young child.
2012 · 12 episodes · Last episode: 14 years ago
E12
Harry and Nikki make a crucial connection between the dead girls and sex-grooming victim Shannon, but is it too late for Hannah and Lauren?
E11
Nikki stumbles across a sinister underworld where teenage girls are groomed for sex and forced into prostitution.
E10
Leo is determined to learn the circumstances about the death of Eve Gilston. Nikki and Harry manage to find the nun who performed the exorcism but are surprised by what they find. Eve’s mother Beth Gilston is confronted by Leo and che omes close tod iscovering the truth about what actually happened the night before her daughter died.
E9
One of Delaney’s patients, Eve Gilston, is discovered dead in her bed. The coroner’s verdict is sudden arrhythmic death syndrome but Delaney is not convinced and gets Leo to investigate. Suspicion soon falls on Eve’s dad Anthony, who lost the family fortune, and his wife Beth.
E8
The team continue to investigate the murder at the notorious Redhill prison where the efforts to control the drugs trade on the wing continue. Harry and Nikki take a good look into Detective Inspector Bridges’ past, and make a significant discovery.
E7
Prison officer Daniel Kessler and Ellis Roberts refuse to reveal anything after child-killer James Wade suddenly dies in his cell. Harry meets Wade’s sister Miriam and agrees to help find her brother’s killer
E6
Nikki manages to track down the original detective on the case, Detective Inspector Gladwyn ans she looks around the church that killer Arnold Mears used to attend as a boy. Mears is not happy that the police have been made aware of the undiscovered bodies and he says that he is prepared to reveal where he has hidden them to Nikki.
E5
Serial killer Arnold Mears Eenjoys poetry but has no remorse for violently killing three teenagers. He has been busy for the last five years sending Annie, a desperate mother of a missing girl, on secret hunts to try and find his hidden victims.Annie’s son Andy, upset at Mears’ manipulation of his mother, ends up turning to Nikki for help. Leo manages to get himself into tropuble with the team after he re-examines a case by Nikki’s old mentor, Dr. Helen Karamides.
E4
Harry and Nikki delve deeper into the tangled lives of the inhabitants of Magnolia Drive.
E3
Harry is disturbed to be called to a crime scene at the home of a family he knows, and finds the bodies of the mother and her teenage daughter, while her stepson lies in a coma - although her toddler has been left unharmed. The police suspect the woman's husband to be the killer - but the pathologist is not so sure of his guilt. The double-murder investigation reveals more about the tangled lives of the inhabitants of Magnolia Drive
E2
Harry and DI James deviate from the original investigation to secretly test DNA evidence from the rival Chesham laboratory to try to solve this stalled case.
E1
When Leo's friend commits suicide, Harry and Nikki are called to the scene of a violent and calculated murder, which is thought to be the work of an apparently dormant serial killer.
2013 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 13 years ago
E10
Leo develops a life-changing relationship with a charity worker as Nikki and Jack make a forensic breakthrough on their case in Afghanistan.
E9
Human remains found on an Afghan water supply project send Leo, Nikki and Jack to the war-torn region to establish if it is a missing British soldier.
E8
Conflict brews between Leo and Nikki when he suspects her new boyfriend is involved in a 50-year cover-up, leaving Leo battling alone to expose the truth.
E7
Nikki is wooed by a science minister as she and Jack investigate a murder on an eco-building project, whilst Leo finds himself trapped in a hospital siege.
E6
When arrested and interrogated by DI Kate Warren, Alan Lane vehemently protests his innocence and insists he didn't kill his wife.
E5
When a pub landlady is stabbed to death and her little finger cut off, Nikki is isolated in her quest to prove the husband's innocence.
E4
As the basement women case highlights two cooperating killers, Nikki, Jack and DI Reed realise one victim was killed by a controlled sedative.
E3
The murders of two women in a house basement force Jack to lock horns with an old flame, while Leo wrestles with providing a second post-mortem on a baby.
E2
When two women close to a dead businessman are murdered, Nikki, Jack and Leo open his family's skeleton-packed closet.
E1
The mysterious death of a wealthy confectionery firm owner plunges Nikki, Leo and new recruit Jack Hodgson into a murky world of corporate subterfuge.
2014 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 12 years ago
E10
Jack's world has been blown apart following the discovery of Hannah's dead body. Nikki manages to find out the truth behind Jack and Ryan's strained relationship. Thomas thinks about hiring forensic scientist Helen as Jack's permanent replacement. Christy Nash is scared for the future of his marriage and business after DI Carter finds out abouts of his relationship with 15-year-old Katie.
E9
Jack becomes involved in an investigation into the murder of a 15-year-old girl owing to his personal connection with the prime suspect. Thomas needs to clear up the conflict of interest.
E8
Martin is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Nuri becomes increasingly desperate to locate the missing drugs, with some tragic consequences. Nikki attempts to help a grieving William come to terms with his daughter Alice's death and his missing baby granddaughter.
E7
After the body of a pregnant Northern Irish girl is found, Nikki and Jack need to locate the baby that has been snatched from her womb. Thomas discovers the girl’s connections to a criminal underworld.
E6
Nikki, Jack and DS Ross are feeling the pressure to close the net on a serial killer abducting young women. Concerns increase about missing Sarah, and solving her mysterious disappearance becomes an urgent priority for the team.
E5
Nikki and Jack head to Scotland to help earnest rural detective DS Jason Ross investigate the chilling murder of a lap dancer found in a remote forest. In their search to find a suspect, the team clash with rogue city detectives DS Mike MacNeil and DI Simon Laing. But as more human remains are unearthed in the forest, it becomes horrifyingly apparent that a dangerous serial killer is at large. News of the murders unsettles new mother Sarah, who is harbouring a dark secret from her partner Steve.
E4
Thomas is under increased pressure from DI Rachel Klein and the Home Office as he battles to save the Lyell Centre's reputation. Peter Masham makes an unlikely deal with Bennetto's brother-in-law. Jack and Clarissa finally uncover the true identity of murder victim Byron Lee.
E3
Nikki finds her professionalism being brought into question during the case of convicted killer David Bennetto, who was jailed for the murder of two gay teenagers. Thomas attempts to save The Lyell Centre’s reputation.
E2
Isaac Dreyfus fights to prove his innocence, whilst Adam Freedman turns to a mysterious source for help get revenge for the murder of his wife and child. Nikki questions the motive behind the murders and a re-examination of the Freedman crime scene leads Jack to make a shocking discovery.
E1
Premiership footballer Isaac Dreyfus finds his career in tatters after a sex tape links him to the brutal murder of a young woman, threatening to destroy both his reputation and marriage. He is desperate to prove his innocence, while Adam Freedman turns to a mysterious source for help to avenge the murder of his wife and child. Nikki finds it hard to deal with Leo’s death following the arrival of the new Lyell Centre boss, pathologist Thomas Chamberlain.
2015 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 11 years ago
E10
When the body of local criminal Jason Simons is found, the course of the case is changed.
E9
The Lyell team are under pressure to catch the killer of an admired Essex police officer.
E8
A young woman working for the Doshis is found dead in Maksim's apartment.
E7
The nanny of a Russian oligarch is killed in a botched assassination attempt.
E6
Nikki, Jack and Thomas focus in on Lizzie's movements on the night of Barge's murder.
E5
A suspected paedophile is found murdered in a children's playground.
E4
Nikki helps high-flying DI Luke Nelson unearth painful childhood memories.
E3
Nikki and Jack investigate a man killed by a train on the London underground.
E2
Nikki and Jack investigate links between the victims to close the net on the killer.
E1
Nikki and Jack strive to track down a sniper at large in London and stem a public crisis.
2016 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 10 years ago
E10
As Nikki and Jack move closer to the truth, their lives are thrown into mortal danger.
E9
A family murdered at a picnic leads the team to the female victim's estranged husband.
E8
Jack leads the hunt for suspected killer Bruno, the brother of the shot teenager.
E7
The shooting of a teenager in an armed police operation triggers a series of murders.
E6
Further victims are killed and a distinctive modus operandi begins to become clear.
E5
An ex-convict is killed and suspicion lands on a recently released child killer.
E4
Thomas must put his personal feelings aside as the team track down Begovic.
E3
A young British Muslim returns to the UK, and concerns over her intentions soon escalate.
E2
Nikki becomes the prime suspect after a former colleague is murdered.
E1
Nikki arrives at a murder scene to find it's a carbon copy of a case in her past.
2017 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 9 years ago
A frantic Jack carries out forensic examinations on the spot where Nikki disappeared. With Thomas at the airport ready to come out and help, but still 24 hours away and no leads left to follow, Jack receives a text message containing a mysterious phone number. However when Jack calls through, expecting to hear from Nikki's captors, he is shocked at who answers the phone.
Nikki travels to Mexico to attend the funeral of Luisa, a former intern at the Lyell Centre who was murdered in a carjacking in her native country. She soon stumbles across the post-mortem report and realises that the body is not that of her ex-colleagues. Assisted by Dr Eva Vasquez and fired up with the idea that Luisa might still be alive, Nikki and Jack trace her last-known movements and are led to a farm where a cartel massacre was carried out.
E8
Nikki helps Becky come to terms with her trauma. Jack is paranoid that Clarissa will leave the Lyell Centre. Paul is in way over his head.
E7
When an East End father and son are killed in a shocking road accident, Nikki and Jack find themselves working alongside a police officer with a vendetta. Clarissa summons her husband Max, a digital forensics expert, to help crack the case - and uncovers disturbing video evidence.
E6
Nikki is under fire for leaking information on a suspect, and Thomas is called in to play peacemaker. Jack and DI Ashton track down the mystery witness. Before the killer strikes again, the team must uncover the true story of Ruth Tresize's disappearance three years earlier.
E5
A woman's body found floating in the Thames leads Nikki and Jack to a community on the banks of the River Lee. Three years ago a teenager called Ruth Tresize went missing from the area, leaving the locals haunted by suspicion and grief. A fresh spate of killings reopens these old wounds.
E4
Having found a link between the two cases, the team struggles to make sense of it. Nikki visits a disgraced former colleague who may hold the key. Thomas uncovers the bizarre truth about how Tina died.
E3
When a photogenic young schoolteacher goes missing, Jack and Nikki are called to the scene and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media storm. Meanwhile, Thomas fights a lone crusade for justice for a troubled young woman who was killed in puzzling circumstances.
E2
When Nikki, Jack and Thomas make a horrific discovery in the van, they are confronted with the work of a killer who preys on illegal immigrants. With the help of Clarissa, they must work out where the killer will strike next before more vulnerable people meet the same fate.
E1
When a people smuggler is found dead in the City, Nikki must delve into London's illegal immigrant community. She meets a vulnerable Syrian teen called Akka who is in need of help, putting Nikki in a moral dilemma - and the killer is still on the loose.
2018 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 8 years ago
E10
As the truth behind the McMorris family is revealed, the team is brought together by the conclusion of a shocking Christmas family tragedy. Reuniting with their respective families, Nikki finds her secret Santa gift is a visit from a loved one.
E9
Nikki, Jack, Thomas and Clarissa are just settling down for their respective festive celebrations when they are interrupted by a call-out to a tragedy at a family home.
E8
The team are determined to uncover the truth about unexplained deaths of patients at a care home. They are desperate to rescue Serena and return her to safety. Unbeknownst to her colleagues in the Lyell Centre, Clarissa allows herself to be admitted to the care home in order to investigate. Her determination to find out what happened at the care home leads her to uncover a shocking truth, but puts her life in danger.
E7
While two care home staff are chasing Kevin McDowd, a young man with learning disabilities and sociopathic tendencies, Nikki and Jack examine a fatal road accident where the deceased is Kevin McDowd's mother. The investigation led by police sergeant Button should be straightforward, but the forensic evidence suggests foul play.
E6
Nikki is still in shock as the team arrive at Matt's residence but insists on working at the Lyell, determined to help. When analysing crime scene photos and the positions of the victims' bodies, Nikki realises there is a pattern. Together, the team uncover a secret that has been held by those at the very top of the US government.
E5
A US diplomat is shot dead in central London, forcing the team to work closely with the embassy and the FBI.
E4
The team wonder if the hack is the only danger as they come under threat.
E3
A series of tragic events are linked to the hacking of a hospital database.
E2
Nikki's suspicions about David Cannon are roused further when she discovers blood in the boot of his car an with Thomas's support she takes samples to process. Does it belong to Sally Vaughn? Meanwhile, the uncovering of the body from the 16-year-old murder shines the spotlight on three people who went to the same school. Emilia Fox stars, with Julian Rhind-Tutt and Alex Macqueen.
E1
Nikki struggles to come to terms with life back home and seeks out fellow pathologist Sally Vaughan for support, only to learn she is nowhere to be found. National Crime Agency investigator Guy Bernhardt asks Nikki to help him by employing pathologist David Cannon, the chief suspect in Sally's disappearance. As Jack, Clarissa and Thomas share concerns about Nikki's wellbeing, a body found in a reservoir is linked to a murder case from 16 years previously. Return of the crime drama, starring Emilia Fox, with Julian Rhind-Tutt and Alex Macqueen.
2019 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 7 years ago
E10
When Thomas sides against her findings on a controversial case, Nikki suspects foul play and takes steps to prove her theory. Jack and Clarissa follow a forensic trail connecting a dead researcher with a billionaire scientist and a secret testing programme.
E9
Nikki is humiliated in court when a barrister accuses her of making a serious error in the case of a policeman who may or may not have been murdered. Meanwhile the team investigates the death of a medical researcher found in a canal with mysterious puncture marks on his body.
E8
During the team’s search for the killer, Jack works alongside an old friend from Northern Ireland, a fearless journalist who has dedicated her life to exposing the suspected organisation. As the team investigate further, they realise they have uncovered a complex conflict sustained by ties of loyalty, family and retribution.
E7
A car-bomb attack in a quiet suburban street brings back unwelcome memories for Jack, when evidence points to the involvement of a Northern Irish terror group, long thought inactive. As the family of the victim seek their own form of justice, Jack calls an old friend to help them find those responsible and stop the act of revenge from escalating.
E6
The team struggle to find the final piece of the puzzle left behind by the murders in Brighton. At home, Nikki and Matt discuss their future together.
E5
A collection of dismembered body parts, covered in intricate Japanese tattoos, have been found in a Brighton waste dump. The team are called in to painstakingly piece them together and they search for clues to lead them to the killer. Outside of the lab, Nikki has some news she desperately wants to share with Matt.
E4
When tragedy strikes close to home, it puts head teacher Noah Taylor on a collision course with the criminals responsible. Can the Lyell team help him stop the cycle of violence?
E3
With new drugs hitting the streets, a head teacher confronts the dealers preying on his community, as the team deal with a surge in drug-related crime.
E2
A mistake has been made during the course of the investigation, and Thomas is targeted as a scapegoat. As frustration grows between the Lyell and the acting DCI, can Thomas rally the team to gather crucial evidence to find the killer before they strike again?
E1
Fresh from her trip to the States, Nikki and the Lyell unit are called in to investigate an attack against a trans man. When two further attacks are reported, one leaving a potential witness, it becomes clear that the team is facing an outbreak of violence against the trans community.
2020 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 6 years ago
E10
Jack is rushed to hospital after collapsing at the scene of a car crash. As he fights for his life, the team must identify the poison to save their friend.
E9
Thomas performs a post-mortem on a soldier who died in military training. His investigation takes a turn when he discovers traces of a possible nerve agent.
E8
The team's investigation leads them to a mysterious cryogenics facility and the discovery of another suspicious death.
E7
When a skeleton is found in concrete, the Lyell team must investigate a suspicious death dating back 20 years.
E6
When the team's search for Jenny's killer hits a wall, her friends at the women's refuge seek answers. Meanwhile, Thomas makes some friends in high places.
E5
A woman's body is found on railway tracks in London. When the post-mortem reveals signs of domestic violence, it brings back troubling memories for Nikki.
E4
Investigating the murder of missing teenager Jason Forbes, Nikki and the Lyell team are pressured by police officers who are keen to secure a conviction.
E3
When the body of a missing teenager is found in a field near his village, Nikki and the Lyell team must determine whether the killer is a stranger or a local.
E2
The team discover a connection between the plane crash and a sinister online forum. Meanwhile, Matt is grieving for his friend, putting his relationship with Nikki under strain.
E1
The team find unexpected connections between the death of a former US ambassador in a plane crash and the apparent suicide of a successful businessman.
2021 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 5 years ago
E10
Stranded in the flooded care home, Jack and Simone fight to keep the residents alive - but Nikki discovers that they may be trapped inside with the killer.
E9
Nikki’s students make an alarming discovery while dissecting a body donated for their training. Jack and Simone try to save care home residents from a flood.
E8
Jack, Nikki and Simone investigate another death connected to the underground boxing ring. Jack's loyalty is tested when he fears Ryan has put Cara in danger.
E7
The murder of a promising boxer draws Nikki and Jack into the world of underground boxing. Meanwhile, Jack's brother Ryan is released from prison.
E6
With their suspect in a coma and an attacker seemingly at large in the hospital, Nikki calls on Adam’s expertise to help solve the case.
E5
Nikki, Jack and Adam investigate the murder of a surgeon in a hospital. DNA evidence appears to implicate a patient who was under anaesthetic at the time of the killing.
E4
Having traced Laura’s last movements to a suburban house, the team work to identify the bodies buried in the garden. Meanwhile, Jack must choose between his brother and the truth.
E3
In the first case for new recruit Adam, the murder of a swimming instructor leads the team to suspect her ex-boyfriend, a former cop. Meanwhile, Jack has an unexpected visitor.
E2
As the team investigate a second death, Nikki’s theory starts to fall apart. Can she put her fixation with Scott aside and find the killer?
E1
While investigating a suspicious death in a prison, Nikki focuses her attention on the victim’s cellmate, a dangerous criminal from her past.
2022 · 6 episodes · Last episode: 4 years ago
E6
Events lead Nikki to conclude that getting the truth will put the Lyell team and everything they love in danger.
E5
The death of an investigative journalist throws the spotlight on to Sam Ryan. Nikki begins to realise that the implications of her discoveries will challenge the principles of forensic science.
E4
A secret from his father propels Jack to Belfast. Meanwhile, Simone and Nikki investigate the mystery of a burned body. As familial secrets come to the surface, Jack faces tragedy head on.
E3
When a woman confesses to murdering her husband, the Lyell team must determine if all is as it seems. Meanwhile, Simone is shocked to be reunited with a detective from her childhood and struggles to untangle her past.
E2
DNA evidence linked to the health secretary’s assassination forces Nikki to face her past in the present. As her investigation progresses, Nikki realises that its consequences will affect her, and her profession, forever.
E1
Sam Ryan recruits the Lyell team to investigate the assassination of the health secretary, but Nikki is unsure whether Sam knows more than she's letting on.
2023 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 3 years ago
As they get to the heart of their investigation, the Lyell team navigate corruption, loss and deceit within the local police force, who have become a law unto themselves.
Jack comes to the aid of an old friend, and is sucked into a difficult case, where he is pitted against his former mentor. As Nikki and the team start to create a picture of what happened, they learn nothing is as it seems. Dealing with a family of serving police officers, they have to tread carefully, as their relationships prove to be another obstacle for the team to overcome.
E8
The Lyell team return to the tunnel and uncover some difficult truths, while the police raid the protester camp, desperate for answers. Family ties are pushed to their limits.
E7
Levelling-up leaders and environmental activists clash in a small town trying to look to the future. With a sabotaged train and a dead mayor, the activists become suspects.
E6
The investigation continues to take unexpected turns, with Nikki managing to get behind the mask of the lead suspect. Jack has a breakthrough at the festival site and Nikki takes a dangerous opportunity. A surprise event at the Lyell brings some hope.
E5
The Lyell team are thrown into the dark side of social media, where nothing is as it seems, and the perfect profiles of the influencers they are investigating raise disturbing questions. As a heavily pregnant DI asks the team for their expertise, are they running out of time to solve this case?
E4
The Lyell team work together to find out why the lorry was found with bodies inside and a dead driver at the wheel, and are truly shocked to discover where it leads them. Gabriel becomes emotionally invested and is presented with an ethical dilemma, and Jack gets a surprise visit.
E3
A lorry is found with people locked inside, some dead. With the survivors refusing to speak, Nikki and the team must use their pathological and forensic skills to identify them.
E2
Nikki becomes even more involved with the Ndrangheta mafia-group and Jack uncovers some disturbing leads. An unlikely alliance leads Nikki closer to the truth, but not without some collateral damage.
E1
When a man plummets from a high-rise building, the Lyell team cross paths with the NCA and a notorious mafia group, pushing Nikki to make a tough decision.
2024 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 2 years ago
Nikki continues to try and identify the last of the remaining bodies in an effort to uncover any connections and find motive, while Jack and the police begin to look into several two-decade old missing persons cases which might reveal the identity of the man dubbed “The King’s Cross Serial Killer”.
The Lyell are called to a museum outside King’s Cross Station, where they discover the bodies of eight victims entombed below. With the knowledge that a prolific serial killer was operating in London nearly twenty years ago, Nikki and the team know this will be a case like no other.
Nikki makes a breakthrough but can the team believe everything they are told? The Lyell is compromised in an unexpected way, as the team strive to find out who the man on the beach was and why he was killed. In a dark and chilling story, they must unite to discover the truth, and above all, trust no one.
The team investigate the death of a Burmese man on a deserted beach, as his young pregnant wife desperately hopes he is still alive. Nikki and Jack piece together the perplexing crime scene and find it poses more questions than it answers.
E6
Nikki and Jack work to uncover the truth surrounding Roy’s death and consider if it’s linked to their original body. Meanwhile, D.I. Torres searches for a stalker and Cara is shocked at Velvy’s living conditions. As the case comes to a head, there are surprises afoot for the team.
E5
The team investigate the body of a woman found in a flat after being dead for a year. As they seek to find out the truth of her identity and what happened to her, they must draw on all of their forensic and pathology knowledge to solve the case. Even if the world had forgotten her, the Lyell are determined that she must get justice.
E4
Events continue to spiral at the university and Cara becomes collateral damage. The riddle of the body in the Thames is solved. A breakthrough in the Cherry case is received from an unlikely source, but will the team get there before it is too late?
E3
The team work a suspected suicide but the investigation raises more questions than it answers. Gabriel has an exciting new opportunity, both professionally and personally, and enlists Jack’s help. When a disgruntled professor of criminology is passed over for promotion, events take a truly sinister turn and the interview panel begin to be targeted. Could a member of the Lyell be next?
E2
When a woman’s body is removed from a reservoir, Nikki performs the post-mortem and confirms she is the deceased wife of pathologist Charles Beck. Jack and Velvy discover new evidence that leads to a surprising arrest as Nikki continues to seek the truth about notorious serial killer Calvin Dunn.
E1
A new murder victim forces the team to consider whether a notorious serial killer has resurfaced after 20 years, or if they are dealing with a copycat.
2025 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 1 year ago
E10
The Lyell team investigate another gruesome murder, and the identity of the shooter at the restaurant leads to an unsettling discovery.
E9
When six people are slaughtered by an unknown gunman, Nikki and Jack must work against the clock to find the shooter. Can they find him in time before he kills again?
E8
When more passengers become infected on the plane, Nikki and the Lyell team must work to uncover the truth and find a cure before it’s too late.
E7
When a mysterious contagion starts to spread on a flight from Mumbai, Dr Nikki Alexander faces a race against time - at 30,000 feet - to contain a deadly illness.
E6
Nikki conducts an unusual post-mortem, and a terrifying discovery disturbs the team. DNA evidence forces the Lyall to seek advice from an unexpected quarter.
E5
Dismembered body parts take Nikki into the crumbling world of criminal justice. Can the Lyell team find a missing barrister before it’s too late?
E4
After another hammer attack, the Lyell team start uncovering connections to a conspiracy involving local government.
E3
When a man is found bludgeoned by a hammer, the Lyell are drawn deep into a conspiracy involving local government.
E2
Benjamin continues his desperate search for Gloria. Nikki’s disturbing discovery joins the dots. A new team member joins the Lyell.
E1
The death of an elderly woman found in a cave has the Lyell team asking what drives a person to murder someone so vulnerable. A new boss at the Lyell riles Jack.
2026 · 10 episodes · Last episode: 8 months ago
Welcome Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox), Jack (David Caves) back onto our screens as they're tasked with a new batch of complex cases.
Silent Witness Series 29 release dates →
E10
After the case takes an unexpected turn, the death of a second victim brings the team closer to uncovering the truth, and Nikki finds herself in danger.
E9
Nikki, Jack, Harriet and Kit investigate the apparent suicide of a British-Chinese activist and must navigate complex international tensions.
E8
Nikki and the rest of the Bowman team must race against the clock to prove Jack innocent before they are also found guilty of their own transgressions.
E7
As Jack feels the weight of local gun-related deaths on his shoulders, he takes it out on a punter in a bar fight and must decide whether to involve Nikki and the Bowman team.
E6
As social media inflames tensions in the community, finding out the truth of who killed Alex Nelson becomes even more vital.
E5
Nikki, Jack and the team must navigate divisions in their new city in order to solve a racially motivated murder, but not everything is as it seems.
E4
The Bowman’s investigation takes a surprising turn as they explore the trials of a homeless community and the mystery of a mental health hospital, both past and present.
E3
When an elderly man is found dead with a screwdriver impaled through his eye socket, the Bowman team find themselves navigating the mental health system of both the past and the present.
E2
Nikki, Jack and the Bowman team are suspicious of a hitman’s murder confession. They must navigate the twists and turns of a complex investigation to uncover the unsettling truth.
E1
Nikki and Jack hunt a suspected hitman across Birmingham, who later claims responsibility for a murder that gripped the nation, for which someone else is serving jail time
Created by Nigel McCrery
Amanda Burton
Sam Ryan
Genesis Lynea
Simone Tyler
Sophia Myles
Laine Cassidy
Matteo Carlomagno
Stephen Ross
William Armstrong
Trevor Stewart
Michael Troughton
Ewan Stewart
Sam Parks
Sean Wilson
Larry Lamb
Richard Mylan
Kevin Bishop
Ben Quayle
Aden Gillett
Lucy Cohu
Frances Tomelty
Anne Cunningham
Michael Byrne
A date for the next episode of Silent Witness hasn't been announced yet. Follow Silent Witness in the Streambay app and you'll be notified as soon as a new episode airs.
The most recent episode of Silent Witness, Season 29 Episode 10 "Shame (2)", aired on March 3, 2026.
Silent Witness has 29 seasons with 268 episodes in total.
Silent Witness first aired on BBC One on February 21, 1996.
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