Silent Witness fans ‘disappointed’ as favourites missing from new series

What did you miss?

Silent Witness viewers were “disappointed” as the BBC show returned without two of its cast members.

The crime drama’s 28th series started on Monday, 6 January with a dramatic episode that saw Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and forensic expert Jack Hodgson (David Caves) investigating the death of an elderly lady. But minutes into the instalment, fans realised that Velvy and Gabriel were nowhere to be seen.

Forensic pathology trainee Velvy Schur (Alastair Michael) and Professor Gabriel Folukoya (Aki Omoshaybi) had both joined the show in season 26, and several fans were dismayed when the new episode opened without a glimpse of them.

What, how and why?

The instalment followed the team as they looked into the case of a lady whose body was found in a cave. Meanwhile, conmen were targeting an elderly man (played by David Hargreaves) who seemed to be suffering from dementia.

Early on, Jack explained Velvy’s absence by saying to Nikki: “Good news from Velvy, He has started his Masters in Forensic Science.”

The Lyell did welcome a new boss, with Harriet Maven, (Maggie Steed) moving into the office along with her piano. Fans posted messages on X saying she was “brilliant” in the role but it seems she didn’t totally fill the gap left by some of the old favourites.

“No Velvey or Gabriel? Not a good start,” one viewer wrote on X as the episode began. “So disappointed, no Gabriel, no Cara and no Velvy, I felt they could have done so much with Velvy’s character,” another said.

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One posted: “Awww, they’ve jettisoned Velvy and Gabriel. After a wooden start, they’d grown on me.” “I miss Velvy,” said another.

Somebody else asked: “Why did they get rid of the lovely sweet Velvy Schur in Silent Witness. Don’t they realise how cute he is?

What else did viewers say?

Silent Witness fans also said they were “heartbroken” by the storyline involving Hargreaves’ character Benjamin Dawson. Vulnerable and living alone, he was preyed upon by conmen who tried to get him to cough up close to £60,000 for fake home repairs.

As the episode ended, one had sneaked into his house at night and was hiding outside the room he was in.

“This is heartbreaking to watch I don’t like it,” one viewer said. “Is anyone else throwing things at the TV when the scammer is on.”

“It’s so sad that people, especially the elderly and disabled are manipulated in this way,” said another.

Silent Witness returns at 9pm on BBC One on Tuesday, 7 January.

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