Emilia Fox Talks About The Next Series Of Silent Witness

Starting A New Life

The BBC’s Silent Witness returns for a new series in February and here’s one of its stars, Emilia Fox, talking about the next run…

Tell us what we can expect from your character this series

Jack and Nikki are starting married life in Birmingham, so they have to find a new home to live in and settle into a new workspace. I think that this has quite an effect on Jack and on their relationship together.

When I look back on the series there is always a theme to them and the last series was definitely about love. The theme of this series, across the stories, is trust and what we can believe in and what’s real. That crosses from stories about AI, to trust in relationships and Jack has some big storylines in this series.

What was it like filming in Birmingham?

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.

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!

Did you pick up any local Birmingham phrases while filming?

Yes! “Alright Bab” and “Ta’ra-a-bit”

What makes you want to return to this role?

I know how lucky I am to have played Nikki for 21 years now. That is a rarity for an actor, to really get to know a character like that. I always say she is like a sort of best friend. We have lived alongside each other and no matter what I have been through in my life she has been a constant in life. I feel the stability of that, but also that we are always expected to do different things as characters within each story, so we never know what is coming next for her. So, there is a real sense of excitement and challenge in that.

Silent Witness still attracts millions of viewers each week, why do you think people love it so much?

I think it’s the premise of the story. I always like to think of it as a behind the scenes of crime solving. The credit should really go to the late, great Nigel McCrery who came up with the idea in the first place and to Amanda Burton, playing Sam Ryan. It’s thanks to the legacy that they left us that the show continues. Just the idea of looking at crime solving behind the scenes and seeing the amazing work that people do to assist the police or an investigation through science and medicine.

I think it’s also this look at human beings and what they are capable of – the good and the bad. There is something reassuring about a team of people who are doing good, trying to make sense of things and get justice.

What is the most interesting thing you have learnt in this role?

How to do a postmortem.

What is it like filming with Maggie, David and Fran?

It is fun. I know we are doing a show that has a dark subject matter and has to be treated with respect, but between us we have a lot of laughs. I mean all three of them are extremely funny and they are very supportive and generous, which is a nice environment to work in. And a nice experience to be able to explore and have fun with. It’s lovely doing postmortems with Maggie as I have someone to bounce off and share those very long scenes with. We’re both very interested in the subject matter.

David Caves I know so well, we have a good working relationship and shorthand with each other where we can get the best out of the scenes and the characters. Fran is just dynamite. She has got such an infectious positive energy to her, and she is just so natural at making information interesting. I feel very lucky.

Do people ever mistake you for your character on the street?

I get called Nikki a lot, even when by crew, but also by people who have watched the show. I don’t mind. I’m very happy to be thought of as a character who I admire and respect. I understand we’re going into people’s houses, so they think of me as Nikki not as Emilia. The things I have loved hearing are when people have said they used to watch the show with their kids or their family and now have chosen to go into the profession in some way.

I think very often people think I might have medical knowledge and would be able do something in a real situation. I definitely wouldn’t be the right person but I do know the people who are the right people to turn to.