Maggie Steed as Harriet, David Caves as Jack Hodgson, Francesca Mills as Kit, and Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander (Image: BBC)

Silent Witness returns with season 29 and the new series boasts a completely “different aesthetic feel” following a shift in location.

At the conclusion of series 28, which witnessed Dr Nikki Alexander and Jack Hodgson tie the knot, it was revealed the team would be relocating from London to Birmingham where the Sir William Bowman Centre of Excellence would be established.

“It’s woven into the story nicely,” David Caves, who portrays Jack, remarked about the location shift, continuing: “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.”

The fresh series will witness Jack and Nikki beginning married life by settling into a new home in Birmingham and adapting to The Bowman Centre, attempting to find some balance. Discussing the new environment and its impact on their characters, Emilia Fox, who portrays Nikki, commented: “I think that this has quite an effect on Jack and on their relationship together.”

The 2026 series centres around trust and will witness the team return for five compelling new stories, spanning 10 episodes

On shooting in Birmingham, Emilia remarked: “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, which we were also fortunate to film in. I think it gives the series a different aesthetic feel.”

Silent Witness season 29 is returning with one major change (Image: BBC)

She continued: “The canals are so striking, and I think that all helps give the show different evolutions, different regular characters and different locations for the show to be based in.

“We’ve been welcomed by people in the city; people have been very friendly. I have loved exploring. I didn’t know about the different quarters. I mostly explored through going to eat, like in the jewellery quarter when I had one of the best Italian meals I have ever had. Then going to the Balti triangle and having a Balti – you have to do that when you are in Birmingham!”.

David has likewise discussed shooting in Birmingham. He revealed: “The people were brilliant, really welcoming and genuinely excited that we were there filming in their city. Birmingham has this mix of grit and heart that suits the show down to the ground. Plus, the food was great. I might’ve finished filming a few pounds heavier.”

David Caves as Jack Hodgson and Emilia Fox as Dr Nikki Alexander in Silent Witness season 29 (Image: BBC)

Meanwhile, Fran Mills, who portrays Kit Brooks, remarked: “I loved filming in Birmingham, for starters the Midlands has a huge fan base for the show itself so whenever we were filming on location the public were so excited to see the iconic show setting up camp on their street.

“I also, on a personal note, loved being so close to the Bullring shopping centre, I used to go there all the time with my Mum growing up so being back there gave me a lot of nostalgia. I am a Midlands girl myself, so it was lovely being so close to my family while we filmed this series.”

Silent Witness series 29 begins on BBC One at 9pm on Monday, February 2 with episode one, entitled The Disappearance of Alice Hill – Part One.

A synopsis states: “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.”

Silent Witness is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.