Silent Witness fans have been left wondering what is going to happen to Jack Hodgson, following a shocking turn of events in the most recent episode, ‘Grace of God’. After getting into a pub fight with a man, Jack later found that same man on the examination table of Dr Nikki Alexander. As a result, filled with guilt, Jack turned himself into the police, thinking he had caused the man’s death.
What a cliffhanger! So does this spell the end of Jack’s career as a forensic scientist and, more importantly for fans, what does that mean for his place on the long-running BBC show?
‘Grace of God’ is a two-parter, and the second instalment is due to air on BBC One tonight in the usual 9pm slot. But it’s already available for eager fans to watch on BBC iPlayer right now, which gives fans the chance to find out Jack’s fate… If you don’t want to read spoilers for the new episode, we’d advise that you don’t read on any further, as we delve into what’s next for Jack on Silent Witness.
It’s good news for viewers who are rooting for the central character. As the storyline continues to unfold on the BBC series, it becomes clear that Jack did not, in fact, cause any life threatening injuries to the man in the pub.
BBC
Part two opens with Jack having bad dreams in prison, with flash backs to the bar fight. “You don’t belong in here, do you?,” his cell mate asks him. But Jack still seems convinced that he has killed a man.
The more time Jack spends behind bars, the more his prison roomie starts to quiz him on whether he actually did what he thinks he has, not necessarily believing him capable. This leads Jack to start to doubt his own guilt too – and it soon transpires that there’s been something much bigger going on.
Jack is cleared and released from prison – much to the relief of his partner Nikki. The pair are then reunited at the end of the episode, and emotions are high.
BBC
“You didn’t kill him Jack,” she tells him, confirming that the man was alive when he left the scene.
“The reason I didn’t tell you about the fight is because you trust me,” he told her, “and I let you down.”
“And you might do it again. And I might do it to you,” Nikki replied, pointing to her wedding ring. “That’s what this is. We make mistakes, but we come back to each other. We always come back.”
And with that, the characters embrace. The episode closes with Jack in a therapy session, making it clear that it’s “alright to ask for help” when it’s needed.
While there’s not been any official word on actor David Caves’s future on the show, it would appear that his character Jack’s brush with the law was for the storyline and character development, rather than a specific set-up for an exit.
Prior to the show’s season 29 premiere, Silent Witness star Emilia Fox teased difficulties for Nikki and Jack, explaining that Nikki would be drawn into a situation that Jack has brought on himself.
“It’s definitely of his own making,” the actor previously told Digital Spy. “I always feel about Jack and Nikki, they are each other’s strength, but it makes them very vulnerable to anything that happens to either of them.
“And definitely in this series, you see Jack experience something that creates a difficulty for both of them,” she added, “and I think exposes the vulnerability because of how much they love each other.”
Silent Witness airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Â Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. Â As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).Â