ITV has released a first-look image from the upcoming seventh series of the crime drama Unforgotten, prompting excited reactions from fans who have long awaited its return. The broadcaster confirmed that Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinead Keenan will reprise their roles as DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jess James, following Nicola Walker's departure from the series.
Unforgotten first aired in 2015, with Nicola Walker playing DCI Cassie Stuart, who led a team of London detectives investigating cold cases involving disappearances and murders. The show's return for a seventh series was announced earlier, with executive producer Chris Lang expressing his enthusiasm.
Returning Cast and New Additions
The first-look photograph shows DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jess James seated behind an interrogation desk, setting the tone for the new investigations ahead. The series is scheduled to premiere next year, according to the Mirror.
Fans have taken to social media to share their excitement, with one viewer posting: "Sssooooo excited for this!" Another commented: "Love this show so much. I miss Nicola a lot but Sinéad is excellent." A third viewer remarked: "So very much looking forward to this - always a guaranteed belter!"
New Cold Case Uncovered
The upcoming series will see the team tackle a new cold case, as revealed in the synopsis: "The drama opens with the chilling discovery of human remains in the crawl space of a house in Ladbroke Grove, London." Early forensic analysis suggests the body is that of a child, deliberately concealed for several years.
The investigation takes a deeply personal turn when a DNA match links the victim to a previously closed historic case, compelling DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jess James to revisit the original inquiry. The synopsis adds that the investigation leads the team to "a new cast of characters whose present-day lives conceal dark secrets," including a troubled social worker, Mary Brock (Sophie Rundle), a respected inmate, Lacee Cook (Kirsty J Curtis), a struggling addict, Hugh Swafham (Julian Rhind-Tutt), and a tenacious journalist, Ruby Allenford (Natalie Simpson).
Cast and Fan Reception
Joining the ensemble for the new series are Peaky Blinders actress Sophie Rundle, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Jo Hartley, Paul Kaye, Nicholas Burns, Outlander's Natalie Simpson, Kirsty J Curtis, Happy Valley actor Andrew Tiernan, Ben Bailey Smith and Dominic Coleman. The line-up also features David Fynn, India Brown, Sonya Nisa, Joshua Sher, Rachel Atkins, Roger Dipper, Cameron Jack, Mark Jax, Call the Midwife's Joe McNamara, Yazdan Qafouri, alongside Paula Wilcox and Philip Martin Brown.
Audiences have previously hailed Unforgotten as "absolutely wonderful", with one viewer describing it as "extremely addictive", while another declared it "the best crime drama ever". One fan branded it "a masterpiece of a series", and another review stated: "The epitome of British crime dramas, not a wasted episode."
Unforgotten is available to watch on ITVX.
