‘Silent Witness’ S16: ‘Change’ Part 1 – info and picture gallery

Silent Witness: Change Part 1 airs Thursday 10 January at 9pm on BBC One.

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.

In the opening episode, John Briggs, a wealthy, ageing confectionery company owner, is found dead in his London hotel suite. Nikki joins forces with Jack to prove to sceptical DI Gold that it’s murder, not death by natural causes.

Several suited sharks circle as it transpires Briggs was losing a desperate fight to prevent the sale of his ailing company to investors. And Michael Trenter, his PR man, is unable to conceal Briggs’ murky private life from the baying press, devaluing the family brand by the hour. Meanwhile, Geraldine, Briggs’ estranged daughter, is a fish out of water as she’s left control of the company in her father’s will.

Leo is left in no doubt about how to secure the Lyell Centre’s future – by employing Jack Hodgson to head up a new forensics department. And just as the new team are cemented, crucial evidence from a discovered body gives them a shocking lead on the killer’s motive.

Emilia Fox plays Dr Nikki Alexander, William Gaminara plays Professor Leo Dalton, David Caves plays Jack Hodgson, Liz Carr plays Forensic Lab Scientist Clarissa Mullery, Priyanga Burford plays DS Seetha Gold, Robert Lonsdale plays DC Gus Cook, Sharon Small plays Geraldine Briggs, Anna Madeley plays Annette Kelly, Derek Riddell plays Michael Trenter, Anna Brewster plays Deanna Collier, Rob Dixon plays Phillip Briggs, Tim Pigott-Smith plays John Briggs, Louis Emerick plays Kenny Barber, Christopher Hunter plays Peter Hornsby, Erik Madsen plays Emmett Scwartzman.