BBC drama Silent Witness left fans confused when Monday’s scheduled episode was pulled hours before broadcast and replaced with different episodes from later in the series
(Image: BBC)
Fans were thrilled when the long-running series Silent Witness made its comeback last week, this time based in Birmingham.
Following the broadcast of two episodes of the forensic drama, starring Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Jack Hodgson (David Caves), audiences were looking forward to the upcoming two-part instalment called The Enemy Within.
The plot centres on the forensics team examining a deadly stabbing that appears to have racial motivations. During their inquiry, the team discovers evidence pointing towards a possible suspect. Meanwhile, racial tensions start to rise throughout the city.
However, when audiences settled down to watch Monday’s episode (February 9), they were surprised to find the storyline didn’t match what had been advertised in the listings, reports the Mirror.
One audience member posted on social media, questioning: “Did they just say they have changed the schedule/episode of Silent Witness? ? Why? ?”.
(Image: BBC)
Another person enquired: “They’ve moved ep 5 to position ep3 and4, so what was the original 3 and 4? Anyone know?”.
“Why aren’t they showing episode 2? ? ? #silentwitness” wrote another baffled viewer. One fan asked: “Why is tonight’s #SilentWitness not the episode as advertised?”.
“Wow I wonder why it was pulled?” one audience member pondered, whilst another commented: “Changed to the billed episodes. Erm, why? #SilentWitness”
The official Silent Witness Instagram account announced the programming change moments before airtime. The statement read: “This week’s new Silent Witness is now on @bbciplayer, in a change to the previously billed episodes. #SilentWitness”.
(Image: BBC)
The rescheduling is believed to be in response to a tragic incident that occurred in Birmingham over the weekend.
A BBC spokesperson told TV Guide: “Due to the attack in Birmingham over the weekend, this week’s episodes of Silent Witness will not transmit as planned and instead they have been replaced with two episodes from later on in the series.”
On Saturday night, two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, were assaulted with a machete outside a shop and taken to hospital. Sadly, one sustained life-changing injuries.
West Midlands Police have subsequently confirmed a 12 year old boy has been detained on suspicion of attempted murder. Officers attended the scene at approximately 9pm and believe the attack was targeted.
The Express has contacted the BBC for comment.
(Image: BBC)
Instead of the planned episode, audiences viewed the first part of episodes five and six, titled Creekwood.
The synopsis states: “Nikki and Jack are called to a construction site to examine the body of an elderly man seemingly killed by a screwdriver impaled through his eye socket.
“The investigating officer, DI Ashley Moss, quickly gets a lead when she follows two homeless people who may have seen what happened. But the post mortem offers up further clues, and as more evidence is gathered, the team find themselves looking into the mental health system both past and present.”