David Caves introduces new guy Jack Hodgson

David Caves talks about his new character Jack Hodgson, and how he has shaken things up at the Lyell Centre.

Writer Tim Prager Introduces Series 16

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. When I was asked to become one of the writers contributing to this compilation of forensic criminal mysteries six years ago I was offered the opportunity to write “what I wanted” on subjects that were of interest and concern to me and was encouraged to consider Silent Witness as I would a feature film. The newly appointed Executive Producer at that time, Phillippa Giles, believed that current contemporary stories and filmic approaches to those stories had the capacity to keep the show fresh. In the ensuing years Silent Witness has managed to attract a small group of excellent writers with individual voices, each of whom have seized that opportunity telling stories that first rate directors have realised. 

In the years since its inception, Silent Witness has seen its cast change as well. The programme once associated with Amanda Burton became the domain of Emilia Fox, Tom Ward and William Gaminara. This talented group of actors defined the programme over the past decade and were well loved by the shows large and loyal audience. When Tom Ward decided it was time for him to leave Silent Witness, he left with the gratitude of everyone involved in the show for the contribution he had made to its success. Although, I’m sure there were sighs of relief from some of the writers, me included, that we wouldn’t have to sustain Harry’s “Will they? Won’t they?” relationship with Nikki any longer! I kept arguing – and I’m sure I wasn’t alone - that we should just let them get on with it, but of course that would be relationship poison. Tom is an exceptionally talented actor and he was excellent in Silent Witness but his departure provided the opportunity to reinvent or perhaps more accurately evolve the programme once more.

Changes behind the camera are often crucial to breathing new life into a popular programme but changes in front of the camera tempt people to wonder if the programme will ever be the same again. Here’s the news flash: It won’t be. It can’t be. It has to change. With Tom’s departure, we made a number of storytelling decisions. We started by reflecting the new privatised age of forensic science and imagined the “Lyell Centre” the home of our Forensic pathologists as having to adapt to what was happening in modern Britain. Ed Whitmore, another of the show’s core writers, and I both recognised that forensic science and forensic pathology had become so closely related in today’s investigative world that we imagined a Forensic Science service that might combine the two disciplines. From that genesis the character of Jack Hodgson began to be created. One of the structural problems of the programme, something that had developed unexpectedly over the years, was that the three principle characters all did the same job creating the possibility of overlap and duplication in the storytelling. They were all cerebral characters. Emotions kept in check. You couldn’t really imagine Harry Cunningham or Leo Dalton (or indeed Nikki) getting into a punch-up. I wanted Jack Hodgson to be invested with some excess testosterone, a Northern Irishman whose flee or fight mechanism is stuck on “fight”. He would be plain speaking. We wanted him to have an edge that hadn’t been sanded away by posh education. He would be younger than Nikki and see the chance to work at the Lyell centre as an opportunity to run his own forensic science franchise. We would give him a history that included a healthy suspicion of how Police investigators use the forensic information that he provides. He would come into the team as the junior partner to Professor Leo Dalton and Dr. Nikki Alexander not their equal and he would have to fight for his place at the table. 

Casting would be critical. Cast well and the new character will take root quickly – making it hard to think he hadn’t been part of the show for the past sixteen years. Series producer Sharon Bloom considered over a hundred actors for the role finally arriving at a shortlist of incredibly talented young actors. For me, one always stood out: David Caves. There was a gamble involved, however. David was a well regarded theatre actor but he hadn’t done film or television work before. Casting him involved some risk – Phillippa Giles, and Kate Harwood, Head of BBC Productions took it. He was cast. 

When the first rushes came back from Anthony Byrne’s beautifully shot and directed film we realised there was no risk. David Caves was excellent. The camera captured him. He was Jack Hodgson. 

When I created Jack I wanted to give him someone to talk to – a character that wasn’t anodyne; one who was physically frail in contrast to Jack’s physical strength, one who was cerebral with an acid tongue. I wanted their relationship to go beyond the functionary relaying of the next piece of evidence in the plot. I wanted to create a co-dependency and did it in the form of Clarissa Mullery, Jack’s long time assistant and forensic examiner. When introduced to Leo Dalton for the first time. Leo asks: “What do you do?”. Clarissa responds: “I make him look clever.” The casting of Liz Carr, I think, makes all of us working on Silent Witness look clever. She brings a natural wit and warmth to her performance, which enriches the programme.

The team leading Silent Witness, Executive Producer Phillippa Giles and Producer Sharon Bloom have embraced the risk of change to keep it fresh. 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.

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.

Source: BBC Silent Witness

Silent Witness to return on Thursday 10th January

The BBC have confirmed that 'Change', the first episode of series sixteen, is scheduled to air on Thursday 10th January at 9:00pm on BBC One, with the concluding part the following day. 

Forensic pathologists Dr. Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Professor Leo Dalton (William Gaminara) return to BBC One for another series of Silent Witness, with the welcome arrival of Forensic Scientist Jack Hodgson (David Caves).

Straight-talking and disarmingly quick-witted, Jack is one of the youngest Forensic Scientists in the country. What he lacks in experience, he more than makes up for in talent and dedication.

Joining David in the new series is Liz Carr as Forensic Lab Scientist Clarissa Mullery. Having enjoyed a successful working relationship together and been crucial in Jack's career progression, he has persuaded Clarissa to join him at the Lyell Centre.

Read more for a summary of the episode, which does contain minor spoilers.

First Look at Series Sixteen!

Emilia Fox introduces 'Change', the opening episode of series sixteen, and gives us a first look at how Nikki is handling Harry's departure, the 'whodunit', and new character Jack Hodgson.

Silent Witness to return in January

InsideMediaTrack have today confirmed that Silent Witness is expected to return in January, with a concrete TX date still to be released.

The sixteenth series, which sees the departure of Tom Ward as Harry Cunningham and the introduction of David Caves and Liz Carr as Jack Hodgson and Clarissa Mullery, will consist of five two-part stories. Episode titles have been floating around for some time now, but they are not confirmed.

According to IMDb, series sixteen will run as follows*:

Change
The Legacy
Trust
Greater Love
True Love Waits

Wikipedia, meanwhile, offers a brief synopsis for the first two episodes:

Change: "Nikki and Leo are tasked to investigate when a badly decomposed body results in an outbreak of a deadly species of moth. As the pair interview candidates for Harry's replacement, they encounter part-time cage fighter Jack, and experienced lab assistant Clarissa. The pair are hired, and on their first day, are asked to test evidence relating to a twenty-year-old unsolved disappearance, in which a body was never found. When a link is established between the two cases, a shocking revelation is let loose."

The Legacy: "Leo investigates the death of an elderly man, whose connections with a local newspaper, and investigative journalist, Emma, appear as a motive for murder. Meanwhile, Nikki flies out to Mallorca to investigate the murder of a woman thrown out of a hotel window."

We should start hearing/seeing more information now as January approaches and I will do my best to make sure you're the first to know. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for instant updates.

*Episode titles and/or order are likely to change between now and initial broadcast.

See Tom Ward in Doctor Who this Christmas

Following his departure from Silent Witness earlier in the year, Tom can next be seen in the Doctor Who Christmas special.

The episode, entitled 'The Snowmen' and set in Dickensian London, sees Tom play Captain Latimer, the widower who has hired new companion Jenna-Louise Coleman as governess to care for his children.

'Latimer is besotted with her, as anyone would be,' Tom says of Coleman's character. 'She's sweet, charming, funny and feisty.'

The episode is scheduled to air on December 25th on BBC One.

Watch a BBC One Christmas trailer, including a clip of Tom as Captain Latimer, below:

My perfect weekend: Emilia Fox, actress, 38

Emilia Fox finds her two-year-old daughter, Rose, has transformed her weekends into a time for family and exploring child-friendly London.

On Friday evening I’ll try to get home early from filming Silent Witness to do bath and bedtime with my 22-month-old daughter Rose. I love being at home in Acton relaxing in front of the television with no lines to learn. I’m addicted to box sets and have recently sat through The Bridge and The Killing and I’m about to start Breaking Bad. You’d think I wouldn't want to watch dark stuff after cutting up bodies on Silent Witness every day, but I’m still fascinated by it.

Emilia Fox and Tom Ward on 'Celebrity Antiques Road Trip'

Emilia Fox and Tom Ward are to star in an upcoming episode of BBC Two's Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, which sees antiques experts accompany celebrities on a road trip around the UK searching for treasures and competing to make the most money at auction.

Tom and Emilia battle it out with help from antiques experts James Braxton and Charlie Ross. Their trip takes them from Glasgow to the village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire before ending up in an auction in Billingshurst in West Sussex.

The episode is expected to air on Thursday September 13th at 7:00pm on BBC Two.

At Glasgow Antiques and Collectables Market whilst
filming in June.

Glamour Interviews Emilia Fox

Emilia Fox talks fashion, beauty and her celebrity crush growing up with GLAMOUR.com.

Have you ever met a celebrity who's made you star struck - and if so, who?

I met Jack Nicholson when I was about 10 at a party of my uncle's and it wasn't so much that I knew his films because I was small, but he wore sunglasses inside at night and I thought that must mean he was very important and was suitably star struck by his charismatic presence.

How do you cope with the pressures of fame?

I don't think of myself as famous so then there is no pressure.

What was the last text message you received?

"Oh f***k it. It's going to be fine. Let's see eachother" from my cousin Laurence [Fox], with a picture of him and my dad on the set of Lewis.

Who was your celebrity crush growing up?

Dustin Hoffman. I had a newspaper cutting picture of him on my wall throughout my school and university years.

This season you will be mostly wearing…

Hudson jeans. I wear them at home and at work as part of my Silent Witness costume and they have the sexiest stretch suede ones for autumn/winter. I can't wait to get some and for the weather to be right!

Favourite beauty product?

St Tropez Naturals Face Cream for instant radiance and a natural glow. No need for make up.

Favourite hair product?

Charles Worthington's Mineral Hair Rescue Mask.

Last time someone made you laugh?

This morning my 21-month-old daughter Rose made me laugh a lot dancing wildly to Paulo Nutini's 10/10, which is her favourite song.

Put your iPod on shuffle. Write down the first song that comes up.

Luka Bloom's I Can't Help Falling In Love With You

Sum yourself up in three words.

Single working mother.

Last film you saw?

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom. Absolutely fantastic in every way.

If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?

Scrambled eggs on toast with butter and marmite.

Tell us one thing about yourself that no one knows?

I have a heart tattoo on the inside of my middle finger on my left hand.

What's the last book you read?

Sadie Jones' The Uninvited Guests. I would absolutely love to make this into a film. Brilliant.

Emilia Fox introduces the Disaronno Film Series, opening a screening of 60's classic 'The Graduate' in Hackney, London in September. More info can be found here.

Source: Glamour Magazine 

Nikki's Wardrobe

Having received many queries about Nikki's fantastic selection of clothes, I thought I would clarify a few things.

Many of Nikki's outfits in the last few series came from high street stores like Warehouse and Dorothy Perkins, although there are a few designer items thrown in the mix. But because the show was filmed a year ago most of the items have long since been sold out/discontinued. Plus, Emilia will often wear a lot of her own clothes/accessories on set (especially when she was pregnant during the filming of series fourteen), so it's difficult to know where it all comes from.

However, there are a couple of confirmed items:

• Her series fourteen handbag was a Mulberry Bonnie (now largely discontinued).
• One of her popular blouses is the Topshop Butterfly Pussybow (discontinued, but still available on eBay in selected sizes). 
• The duck-print blouse is from Moschino (but is also now discontinued).
• Nikki's gorgeous navy coat which has made several appearances is Diane von Furstenberg (again, no longer available - see what I mean!)
• The blue and yellow blouse from 'A Guilty Mind' is another Diane von Furstenberg, but is also discontinued (thanks Babycham for the tip!).
• The majority of jewellery items are Emilia's own, designed by Alex Monroe and Kate Halfpenny (readily available on both websites).

If anyone knows of any other items, leave a comment!

'And Then I Fell In Love' Air Date

It has been confirmed that 'And Then I Fell In Love' will air on Sunday 19th and Monday 20th August at 9:00pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.

The episode had been delayed due to the storyline's similarities with the shocking Rochdale child sex grooming case happening in the north of England - the BBC felt that it would be 'too sensitive' to show the episode over the Bank Holiday weekend on May 6 and 7 as the trial was coming to an end at Liverpool Crown Court. They released a statement at the time claiming that it would be aired later in the year.

This episode will mark Tom Ward's final appearance in Silent Witness, as he has decided to leave the show after ten years of playing Harry Cunningham and move on to new projects. Silent Witness News wishes him all the best.

Tom Ward Filming Doctor Who Christmas Special

Now in production in Newport, Wales, this year's "Doctor Who" Christmas Special is set to introduce Jenna-Louise Coleman as the Doctor's new companion, Clara and, as revealed earlier this week, will feature guest appearances by Richard E Grant and Tom Ward.

Photos from the production are now online, revealing a Victorian setting for the adventure and in addition to shots of Coleman and Ward, the presence of "Life on Mars" star Liz White and the return Catrin Stewart's Jenny, Neve McIntosh's Vastra and Dan Starkey's Strax (all of whom last appeared in "A Good Man Goes to War").

There's still no official airdate for the beginning of the seventh modern season, but the still-untitled Christmas Special will be the sixth new episode to air.

For more photos, visit comingsoon.net.

Tom Ward to leave Silent Witness

Silent Witness fans are about to be stunned into silence – heart-throb Tom Ward is quitting the show.

Tom’s much-loved character, Dr Harry Cunningham, will depart this month after 10 years in the BBC crime drama series.

(Warning: article contains spoilers).

(Potential) 'And Then I Fell In Love' Air Date

We finally have an air date for the postponed episode of series fifteen, 'And Then I Fell In Love'. The episode will air on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th August at 9:00pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.


EDIT: All information has now disappeared from the BBC Press Office website, presumably because they realised their error of scheduling it at the same time as the Olympic Closing Ceremony. Hopefully it will reappear soon with the correct information and solid broadcast date!

The episode had been delayed due to the storyline's similarities with the shocking Rochdale child sex grooming case happening in the north of England - the BBC felt that it would be 'too sensitive' to show the episode over the Bank Holiday weekend on May 6 and 7 as the trial was coming to an end at Liverpool Crown Court. They released a statement at the time claiming that it would be aired later in the year.

It is still unclear whether the episode will feature the 'missing scenes' that weren't shown in the iTunes release of the episode but were seen in promo pictures (see here), but either way, I'm sure the news of an air date will please those frustrated by the delay!

Tom Ward at the Rundle Cup

Tom attended the Hackett Rundle Cup today, participating in the charity polo match and other games to raise money for INSPIRE.

More photos will be added to the gallery if and when I receive them.

On-Set Photos

Silent Witness were filming at Birkbeck University this week, and some passers-by managed to take a few snapshots of filming.

Pictures hidden behind the cut, as they are a little speculative and spoiler-ish.

Tom Ward to Attend Hackett Rundle Cup

It has been confirmed that Tom is expected to once again attend this year's Rundle Cup, participating in the charity polo match and other games to raise money for INSPIRE.

The event will take place at Tidworth Polo Club in Salisbury on Saturday 14th June.

More information can be found here, and you can buy tickets here.

Helvar Shines Light on Silent Witness

*The following article was written during the pre-production of series fifteen in 2011.*

 

 

 


Lighting plays an important role in TV production. It has many functions, from simple illumination of actors through to creating atmosphere in line with the artistic requirements of the director. Many new generation crime dramas rely heavily on lighting to create a brooding atmosphere to complement the gritty subject matter.

The award-winning Silent Witness is one of the BBC’s most successful crime dramas. A series about a team of forensic pathology experts, the storylines blend mystery, science and detection into a formula that has turned the programme into a huge success in theUK. The 15th series of the show is currently being filmed out on location and at a BBC studio inWest London and in preparation for the series, the on-set lighting scheme was upgraded to include DALI lighting control using a new Helvar DIGIDIM Router system.

The set is located in a large warehouse that has been converted specifically for the purposes of filming the series. The team of forensic pathologists: Dr. Harry Cunningham (Tom Ward), Dr. Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Professor Leo Dalton (William Gaminara) are based at the ‘The Thomas Lyell Centre’ - a hi-tech scientific laboratory which is carefully reconstructed on the set. There are two main areas of the set that feature the DIGIDIM Router system, Professor Dalton’s Office - a large and plush imposing interior, and the Autopsy Room - the stark looking facility where the pathologists painstakingly examine bodies of the deceased in search of vital clues that may reveal causes of death.

Series Sixteen Gossip

Filming is now well under way into Silent Witness's sixteenth series, and rumoured episode titles have started to appear.

According to IMDb, episode one will be entitled 'Change' and episode two 'The Legacy'.

There is also a brief summary of 'Change' on Wikipedia, which is as follows:

"Nikki and Leo are tasked to investigate when a badly decomposed body results in an outbreak of a deadly species of moth. Meanwhile, Harry is tasked with providing evidence in a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. However, he soon discovers a link between both of the team's cases, a link which could change his life forever..."

Don't forget that the titles and order of episodes are likely to change in post-production (as seen with the last series!), but it's a nice little teaser for what is certain to be another great series.

See Emilia Fox in 'A Thousand Kisses Deep'

Emilia's latest film, A Thousand Kisses Deep, is to be released in selected cinemas this Friday. Watch the trailer below:

There will also be a Q&A session with Emilia at Apollo Cinema in Piccadilly Circus on Friday 15th June. For more details, see here.