Silent Witness is a household name in cosy crime – and with good reason. First premiering in 1996, almost 30 years ago, the series has carved out a unique space in British television. Perhaps it’s the focus on forensic pathology, or the fact that its creator, Nigel McCrery, is a former murder squad detective, that has helped it stand the test of time.

Outliving series such as Murder, She Wrote, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and even Agatha Christie’s Marple and Poirot, Silent Witness has an enduring quality. Viewers know exactly what they’re in for, and many are more than happy to settle into its familiar rhythms, even when the pacing is slow or the format feels well-worn.

Jack Hodgson (DAVID CAVES) & Dr Nikki Alexander (EMILIA FOX)© BBC Studios
Jack Hodgson (DAVID CAVES) & Dr Nikki Alexander (EMILIA FOX)

It’s within this context that season 29 arrives – and diehard fans may want to look away. The debut episode felt lacklustre and, at times, surprisingly tepid. The story opens with newlywed couple Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Jack Hodgson (David Caves) returning to work after a bloody hit and run leads them to suspected hitman Gary Booth (Adam Rayner).

Once in custody, Gary confesses to the murder of Alice Hill, a woman whose disappearance gripped the nation five years earlier. Her body was never recovered, yet her husband, Jason Webb, has been serving time for her murder despite maintaining his innocence. Viewers briefly meet Alice in the opening scene, shown having an affair with a married man while a shadowy onlooker watches from a hole in the ceiling above.

Gary’s confession throws the case back into the spotlight and results in Jason’s release, but as Nikki, Jack and the team dig deeper, the truth proves far more complicated.

This opener will likely appeal to long-time fans, particularly as it leans more heavily into procedural police work rather than the high-stakes, often implausible action that has seen Nikki and Jack placed in danger in previous seasons. That shift may explain the slower pace and despite the dramatic setup – an affair, a fatal crash and a long-buried crime – much of the episode is devoted to methodical forensic follow-up, which at times struggles to sustain tension.

man holding files© BBC Studios

One of the more interesting layers, however, is the show’s noticeable move to Birmingham, which was made in an attempt by the BBC to spotlight other UK regions apart from London. The new setting offers a fresh landscape for the gritty murders to take place, taking viewers from the same old spots in London to the industrial quarters of the West Midlands.

Themis (ROSANNA ADAMS), Dr Nikki Alexander (EMILIA FOX)© BBC Studios

Meanwhile, Emilia Fox remains the emotional anchor of the series. Having led the show since 2004, she brings a quiet authority to Nikki, grounding the episode even when the narrative’s momentum dips.

Silent Witness airs on BBC One at 9pm on Mondays and is available to stream on iPlayer. Subscribe to our What to Watch newsletter to read HELLO!’s reviews early.