Series 16 will see the arrival of David Caves as forensic scientist Jack Hodgson, alongside forensic pathologists Dr. Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Professor Leo Dalton (William Gaminara).

Prager explained: “Silent Witness is sixteen. It’s an astonishing run for any programme but particularly impressive for a show, which is not a soap, in fact it is not really a series in the traditional sense. It is a collection of films with recurring characters and that may be the key to its ability to change and reinvent itself.”

The writer added: “It is a resilient programme; one that can examine a wide and varied range of story subjects. In the coming series, Leo, Nikki and Jack will identify and track an anthrax contamination which threatens our national security; they’ll play cat and mouse with a psychopathic killer, Nikki will be wooed (yes, we all agree she needs a good man) by a charismatic Science Minister while Leo tries to give some comfort to a grieving father who is looking for the cause of his son’s fatal tumour, and in the series finale the Lyell Centre’s Forensic team is asked to go to Afghanistan to investigate human remains which are thought to belong to a British soldier who has been missing for more than five years.”

Prager concluded: “After sixteen years Silent Witness remains a programme that can address contemporary issues, that can entertain, thrill and move its audience. It’s been able to do this because it’s been unafraid to change. Silent Witness at sixteen has changed again and change is good.”

Series 16 kicks off with ‘Change’ at 9pm on Thursday 10 January, which sees a wealthy, ageing confectionery company owner found dead in his London hotel suite. Nikki joins forces with Jack to prove to sceptical DI Gold that it’s murder, not death by natural causes. The second part of ‘Change’ will air on Friday 11 January.

Are you looking forward to Series 16? Let us know below…

> Buy the Series 13-14 DVD boxset on Amazon.

Watch the Series 15 trailer…