Silent Witness returns for its 29th season with a completely "different aesthetic feel" following a major location shift from London to Birmingham. The new series sees the team relocate to the Sir William Bowman Centre of Excellence, a move that was set up at the end of the previous season.
David Caves, who plays Jack Hodgson, said: "It's woven into the story nicely. The team is adapting to new surroundings, new faces, and a slightly different pace of life. It's a proper reset, but of course, being Silent Witness we don't exactly get a quiet start."
Emilia Fox, who portrays Dr Nikki Alexander, praised Birmingham: "It's a really beautiful city. There are some incredible industrial buildings where the history of Birmingham feels very present. That was as exciting to discover as the beautiful countryside, which is close to Birmingham." She added that the canals are "so striking" and help give the show "a different aesthetic feel."
The 2026 series centres on trust and features five new stories across ten episodes. The first episode, titled 'The Disappearance of Alice Hill - Part One', airs on BBC One at 9pm on Monday, February 2. The synopsis teases: "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 time in jail."
Fran Mills, who plays Kit Brooks, expressed her nostalgia for filming in Birmingham: "I loved being so close to the Bullring shopping centre, I used to go there all the time with my Mum growing up." She added that the public were "so excited to see the iconic show setting up camp on their street."
