BBC confirm future of longest-running crime drama in major shake-up

NewsTVBBCSilent Witness first aired back in 199613:58, 22 Jul 2026BBC have confirmed the future of their long-running crime drama Silent Witness in a new shake-up.‌The primetime hit BBC One show, the longest running crime drama currently airing on TV anywhere in the world, follows a team of forensic pathologists helping police solve murders using clues found on the bodies of victims. Silent Witness stars Emilia Fox, Richard Lintern, David Caves and Liz Carr.‌Silent Witness first aired in 1996, and in its earliest seasons, the series explicitly focused on Dr. Sam Ryan, a brilliant and fiercely independent pathologist. Following major cast departures, the focus shifted to a broader team dynamic.‌Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily NewsletterThe latest se