ITV has confirmed that the seventh series of Unforgotten will premiere next year, with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinead Keenan returning to their roles. The announcement came alongside a first-look image from the upcoming season, but some viewers have expressed disappointment that the show will not return this year.
Returning Cast and First Look
The crime drama, which first launched in 2015 with Nicola Walker as DCI Cassie Stuart, follows a team of London detectives solving cold cases involving disappearances and murders. Sinead Keenan and Sanjeev Bhaskar are set to reprise their roles as DCI Jess James and DI Sunny Khan respectively for the seventh series.
Executive producer Chris Lang said: "I am so delighted to have been asked to create another series of Unforgotten, and given the opportunity once again to follow Sunny, Jess and their brilliant team, as they attempt to crack another cold case. Unforgotten is a drama that has always asked its audience to lean in, concentrate, and engage with complex ideas, plots and themes, and we are profoundly grateful that such a large and loyal audience continue to enjoy doing exactly that. Roll on series 7!"
Fan Reactions and Complaints
ITV released a first-look photograph showing DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jess James seated behind an interrogation desk. The broadcaster verified that the new series would premiere next year, as reported by the Mirror.
While some fans expressed excitement, with one commenting "Sssooooo excited for this!" and another writing "Love this show so much. I miss Nicola a lot but Sinéad is excellent," others voiced frustration over the wait. One viewer wrote "2027 is not soon," while another said "Have been waiting forever for this!"
New Cast and Storyline
The upcoming series will feature new cast members including Sophie Rundle, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Jo Hartley, Paul Kaye, Nicholas Burns, Natalie Simpson, Kirsty J Curtis, Andrew Tiernan, Ben Bailey Smith, and Dominic Coleman. The line-up also includes David Fynn, India Brown, Sonya Nisa, Joshua Sher, Rachel Atkins, Roger Dipper, Cameron Jack, Mark Jax, Joe McNamara, Yazdan Qafouri, Paula Wilcox, and Philip Martin Brown.
ITV previewed the storyline earlier this year, revealing: "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 and has been deliberately concealed for several years. The investigation takes a deeply personal turn for the team 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 and unravel the truth behind a decades-old crime."
The investigation leads to new characters 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).
Audiences have previously praised Unforgotten, with one viewer describing it as "absolutely wonderful," another calling it "extremely addictive," and a further fan branding it "a masterpiece of a series." The show is available to watch on ITVX.
