The popular crime drama Silent Witness is back for its 29th season. This season, the team continues to solve challenging cases, but they’ve moved their investigations to a new location: The Sir William Bowman Centre of Excellence in Birmingham.
Additionally, Nikki and Jack are navigating changes in their personal lives since their quiet wedding last season. Nikki has worked through her initial hesitations about marriage and is embracing this new chapter.
It really came down to rediscovering the core meaning of marriage for her and for their relationship, and he got that – which gave the actors a strong foundation to work with.
Fox noted it was curious that Nikki could thoroughly explain the body’s anatomy and how each organ works, but struggled to understand emotions.
She continued, explaining that it’s a complicated situation for the scientists and how they’re navigating it. This current season of the show focuses on them adjusting to married life and starting over in Birmingham, along with all the challenges and changes that come with it.
In addition to Nikki and Jack, Harriet and Kit will be returning, and the show will also feature several new guest stars – details are below.
Silent Witness season 29 cast
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
Nikki Alexander grew up in South Africa. After her parents passed away, she decided to remain in England and began working with the Lyell team in 2004.
Nikki is naturally inquisitive and willing to consider new ideas, though she can sometimes act on impulse. However, she consistently proves her strength when faced with difficult circumstances. Since joining the team, she’s developed into a highly capable and self-assured pathologist, and has successfully navigated numerous crises – most notably, she saved Jack’s life back in season 16.
After a romantic connection that began with a kiss at the end of season 24 and continued to blossom over the next three seasons, Jack and his partner have now tied the knot.
According to Fox, Jack and Nikki are beginning their married life in Birmingham and need to find a new home and work environment. He believes this transition will likely impact both Jack individually and their relationship as a couple.
Looking back at the show, each series always has a central idea. The last one focused on love, and this time around, it’s all about trust – what we can rely on and what’s genuine. This idea appears in many different stories, from those about artificial intelligence to those about personal relationships, and it plays a big part in Jack’s storylines this season.
Emilia Fox first gained recognition for her role in the 2002 film The Pianist, and has since appeared in several other movies like The Soul Keeper, 3 Blind Mice, and The Republic of Love. Besides her well-known part in Silent Witness, she’s also been on TV shows including Merlin, Delicious, and The Trial of Christine Keeler.
David Caves plays Jack Hodgson
Let me tell you about Jack Hodgson. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t mince words – incredibly direct and with a really sharp sense of humor. As a forensic scientist, he’s clearly brilliant, but also fiercely independent and trusts his gut. He’s not arrogant, though; he’ll own up to errors, but he’s definitely not afraid to speak his mind and challenge the status quo. A really compelling character, to say the least.
Okay, so in the Season 27 finale, Jack finally popped the question to Nikki, and they actually tied the knot in the Season 28 finale! It wasn’t the huge, elaborate wedding Jack had originally pictured, though. They went for something much more low-key and intimate, which I actually thought was a really sweet touch.
According to Hodgson, Jack and Nikki are adjusting to their new home in Birmingham and familiarizing themselves with The Bowman Centre, all while trying to establish a good work-life balance.
Jack hasn’t changed much – he’s still opinionated and a bit of a smart aleck, but now he understands himself better. He’s grown up and is more deeply impacted by the challenges he faces at work, which is really evident throughout this series. In one particular story, Jack faces a deeply personal and difficult journey that he has to navigate on his own.
David Caves is most famous for playing Jack, a role he’s held since 2013, but he’s also acted in the film Jackie and has a strong background in theatre. Notably, he received excellent reviews for his performance as Petruchio in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2011 production of The Taming of the Shrew.
Maggie Steed plays Harriet Maven
I recently learned a bit about Harriet Maven, and it sounds like she’s going through a pretty big change! The whole team has relocated to Birmingham, and apparently, everyone’s feeling a little nervous about the move. According to Patrick Steed, who leads the group, that apprehension is totally understandable given the circumstances.
She consistently gives her all for her teammates and is incredibly loyal, always ready to stand up for them, even in dangerous situations. She’s known for being direct, funny, and deeply committed to the team’s success. She works hard to ensure everything runs smoothly, efficiently, and according to their values.
I recently discovered Maggie Steed and I’m really impressed! I’ve seen her in a few things already – she was great in EastEnders, and I also recognized her from Shine on Hervey Moon, Pie in the Sky, Born and Bred, Chewing Gum, and Ten Percent. I’m curious to see what else she’s been in!
Francesca Mills plays Kit Brooks
Who is Kit Brooks? A crime analyst who joined the team shortly after Harriet.
According to Mills, viewers will notice Kit becoming more comfortable and skilled at solving complex crimes. After spending last year trying to earn her place alongside established investigators like Nikki Alexander and Harriet Maven, she now confidently finds her stride. This season, her friendship with Jack deepens, and the two work effectively together in their new workspace.
You may recognize Francesca Mills from her roles in shows like Harlots, Worzel Gummidge, Pistol, and The Witcher: Blood Origin. But what other projects has she appeared in?
Silent Witness season 29 guest stars
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.
Silent Witness seasons 1-28 are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
As a total TV buff, I just wanted to let you know about a show you should definitely check out – Silent Witness! You can add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Seriously, download that app – it gives you awesome daily recommendations and all sorts of features to keep you up-to-date on everything happening in TV.
Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before joining TopMob, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. Abby has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.
Hey, I’m Patrick Cremona, and I write about movies for TopMob. Basically, I cover everything hitting theaters and streaming services. I’ve been with the site since October 2019, and it’s been a wild ride – I’ve gotten to interview some seriously famous actors and review all sorts of films, from blockbusters to indie gems.
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2026-02-02 16:36