SILENT Witness legend Emilia Fox shares a poignant tribute to the show’s creator after his death.
Nigel McCrery who was also behind New Tricks, died aged 71 after being diagnosed with a terminal illness in October last year.
His agent confirmed the news of his death “with a heavy heart”.
United Agents wrote on social media: “It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news of screenwriter, author and producer Nigel McCrery’s passing.
“As the creative mind behind such hits as the much loved long running BBC drama series Silent Witness and New Tricks, Nigel captivated and inspired audiences for years with his work.
“His numerous contributions to the arts will always be remembered. Nigel had an incredible career and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Posting on Instagram, Emilia shared a heartfelt statement about Nigel explaining how she was so sorry to hear the sad news.
“I am so sorry to hear the terribly sad news about the passing of Nigel McCrery.
“In creating Silent Witness he brought something special to so many audiences around the world, and to those of us lucky enough to work on the show.
“Its success and longevity are testament to Nigel and his brilliant idea in the first place – and of course many other shows too,” her statement read.”
She continued: “I was hugely fond of him personally. He was always kind and warm and spoke devotedly of his own family as an extremely proud parent and grandparent.
“I am grateful that he remained connected to the show ongoingly and always wanted to know what plans there were for it.
“His great friend the forensic pathologist Helen Whitwell, who inspired the Sam Ryan character played by Amanda Burton, also sadly passed away recently.
“They will both live on through Silent Witness and we will do our best to make them proud. He will be missed by so many and my thoughts are with his family.”
Nigel, who served with the Nottinghamshire Constabulary, began Silent Witness about a police pathologist in 1996 with the BBC.
His 1950s-set medical drama Born And Bred, co-created with Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, aired during the 2000s.
Silent Witness cast past and present
Silent Witness has been on our screens for 28 years and now with the next two series guaranteed, we look back on the characters past and present.
By Donna Richardson
PAST
Amanda Burton
Amanda who was in Brookside and Peak Practice before becoming Sam Ryan in Silent Witness, was in the very first episode until series eight episode two. She went on to become Clare Blake in ITV’s The Commander
Tom Ward
Tom was Dr Harry Cunningham from 2002 to 2012, joining in the sixth season of the crime drama. Prior to this he played the role of George Osborne in Vanity Fair and had a role in Anna Karenina.
William Gaminara
William played Leo Dalton in the 11th series of the show. He exited the show in 2013 to pursue other roles.
Liz Carr
Liz played the role of Clarissa Mullery from 2013 to 2020. She went on to star in the OA as Dr Marlow Rhodes and in 2021 joined the cast of the Witcher and then Good Omens in the same year. She was also Judge Gamble in Loki.
PRESENT
Emilia Fox
Emilia has played the role of Nikki Alexander for 19 years. Before that she was in Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca and other drama adaptations. She has also been in starring film roles in The Pianist amongst others.
David Caves
David Caves is Jack Hodgson and has been in the show since 2012, appearing in the first episode of series 16 called Change.
Rhiannon May
Rhiannon first appeared in Silent Witness Series 24. She is Jack’s neice Cara Connelly for three seasons
Aki Omoshaybi
Aki is Professor Gabriel Folukoya in the show, a neurologist and pathologist. He arrived in the first episode of Silent Witness series 26. Elsewhere he appeared in Star Wars Episode VIII.
The TV writer also launched New Tricks, which follows the fictional Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad, in 2003 with Roy Mitchell.
Nigel also wrote non-fiction books about sport, the First World War and the Second World War.
These included The Footballers Who Fought And Died In The Great War, Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War and Season in Hell: British Footballers Killed In The Second World War.
His book, The Vanished Battalion, was made into the 1999 war drama All The King’s Men starring Sir David Jason and Dame Maggie Smith.
In October 2024, he told BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live programme that he had been told he was terminal recently, which he called “quite a shock”.
“I mean people deal with their deaths in different ways, and I think it’s all very, very individual to each of us,” he said.
“But I think for a little while you do go into shock – or I did, and I was in a bit of a state.”
Silent Witness airs on BBC1 and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
