The BBC has postponed airing episodes of its long-running crime drama Silent Witness following a violent incident in Birmingham over the weekend. The decision impacts the broadcast schedule for the show’s 29th season, which recently relocated its primary setting from London to the Midlands city.
Originally slated to air on Monday evening, the third and fourth episodes – comprising a two-part story titled “The Enemy Within” – were replaced with episodes five and six, according to reports from the Birmingham Mail and Daily Mail. “The Enemy Within” focuses on a forensic investigation into a fatal stabbing, with the storyline exploring potential racial motivations behind the crime.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the schedule change to TV Guide, stating that the original episodes had been pulled “as a result of the tragic event in Birmingham.” The spokesperson did not elaborate on the specifics of the event, but it follows a weekend incident in which two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, were attacked with a machete in the city.
The shift in programming has prompted confusion among viewers, with many taking to social media to question the altered schedule, as reported by the Birmingham Mail. The new season of Silent Witness stars Emilia Fox as Dr. Nikki Alexander and David Caves as Jack Hodgson, alongside returning cast members Maggie Steed and Fran Mills.
The BBC has not yet announced a new date for the broadcast of “The Enemy Within.” Seasons 1-28 of Silent Witness are currently available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
