Tom Ward leaves ‘Silent Witness’

© BBC

Sad news today for Silent Witness fans, as the BBC announces Tom Ward has left his role as Harry Cunningham in the long-running crime drama after ten series.

Reports suggest fans will have a short lived glimmer of hope as Harry and fellow pathologist Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) decide to give their relationship a go, only for it to end when he decides to take up a post of professorship in New York.

Here’s the full BBC Press release:

Silent Witness star Tom Ward, who has played Forensic Pathologist Dr Harry Cunningham since 2002, will bow out of BBC One’s long running drama after his final episode airs later this month.

The two-part episode, And Then I Fell in Love, sees Harry move in with close friend and colleague Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) when a gas explosion in his flat leaves him temporarily homeless.

Filming on the next series is underway for transmission in early 2013, and will see the arrival of David Caves in his first TV role as forensic scientist Jack Hodgson. David has a theatre background, having recently played Petruchio in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Taming of the Shrew, as well as a number of productions by international theatre company Cheek By Jowl.

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.

David says: “I was absolutely surprised and delighted to be part of a show that has been running as long as Silent Witness. It is a big change for me having just done theatre up to this point, but it’s very exciting to play a brand new part and the freedom that gives you. I’m having a lot of fun”.

Joining David in the new series is Liz Carr, regular presenter on the BBC’s Ouch! Podcast, as Forensic Lab Scientist Clarissa Mullery.

Jack and Clarissa have enjoyed a successful working relationship and she has played a critical role in his career progression. He has persuaded her to join him at the Lyell Centre: she is the only person who can truly penetrate his male bravado and make him listen, keeping him grounded and eliminating some of his wilder theories.

Liz says: “I’m loving playing a character who’s witty, smart and sarcastic. It does make me giggle that I’m a forensics expert. At school I couldn’t study chemistry and physics because the labs weren’t wheelchair accessible… ahh the irony!”

Kate Harwood, BBC Controller, Series and Serials Drama, says: “Silent Witness owes a great debt to the talented Tom Ward, who has given us our beloved Harry with wit, style and passion to Silent Witness for ten seasons. We will miss him so much and wish him all the best for his future…but of course every change is an opportunity and we’re thrilled to welcome David Caves and Liz Carr into the team.

“As a forensic scientist Jack is a change of direction for Silent Witness. He will take us into stories in different and exciting ways. He will be a fantastic, physical and lively presence on the team and we are so enjoying the change of pace and energy.

“Liz, his clever, subtle, slightly sly assistant, will also be taking the show into a new and more modern era. We welcome them both aboard.”

Will you miss Harry? Will you continue to watch without Tom Ward and the Nikki/Harry tension? Let us know in the comments below.