History Series / SilentWitness

* AbusiveOffspring: The twist of "Snipers Nest" is revealing that sixteen year old [[TeensAreMonsters Craig Cross]] abuses his parents rather than the other way around. He regularly verbally abuses and threatens his weak willed alcoholic mother, and likewise enjoyed going out of his way to aggravate and humiliate his father. It got to the point where his father set up cameras in the house cause he was terrified Craig would kill him whilst he was sleeping. Craig eventually ended up teaming up with the deranged [[ColdSniper Adrian Turner]] to do just that.

*** The family is a ‘blended’ one, consisting of a married couple, the husband's son from his previous marriage which ended in [[TheLostLenore his wife’s death]], the wife's daughter from a previous marriage that ended in divorce (though [[AmicableExes she, the ex and her new husbands are all still friends, having known each other for years]]), and the new couple’s baby daughter. Everything seems hunky dory…until one day the wife reveals to the husband that [[spoiler: [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe his son isn’t biologically his]] but ''her ex’s'' due to him [[YourCheatingHeart having an affair with his dead wife]]. Why did she tell him this? Because she recently found out that [[SurpriseIncest her daughter and stepson were sleeping together]], being under the impression they were [[FlirtyStepsiblings just stepsiblings]]. The husband [[UnderStatement doesn’t take this well]] and proceeds to ''murder'' his wife and stepdaughter and tries to murder his son (he barely survives and winds up in a coma)]], leading to the events of the episode. [[spoiler:When it comes out that the husband is the killer, he reveals he even considered murdering his [[WouldHurtAChild baby daughter]], but decided not to because she was actually biologically his and “his future”…even though because he got caught, [[AllForNothing he’s going to prison for the rest of his life and will probably never see his daughter again]]. The teen son wakes up from his coma: hurray! Only, now the ex (his real father) has the [[SarcasmMode delightful]] job of telling him just why he’s been in a coma and the rest of his family have been brutally killed]]. And even before the murders [[spoiler: and the accidental incest]], the family wasn’t exactly stable, what with [[spoiler: the affairs]], the fact that the wife is implied to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter be jealous of her husband’s dead first wife and feels he constantly compares them]] and the 'little' incident at a party a few years before the murders, where she briefly planted a kiss on [[HotScientist Harry]] whilst her husband was in the next room.

** "Buried Lies" has [[spoiler: Gary]], an abusive drunk who [[spoiler: [[DomesticAbuser beats his wife]] and [[WickedStepfather stepchildren]] and did the same to his ex and her baby, let his young stepdaughter drown because she was ‘annoying’ and breaks into Sam Ryan’s home, rifles through her underwear and [[{{Squick}} sniffs and burns holes into them]]]]. He winds up being [[spoiler: non-fatally stabbed by his stepson after he tries to attack the boy’s mother]].

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety: during "In Plain Sight", Steve Monk a member of the Police '''Firearms division''' jokingly pulls a gun on a disliked woman from InternalAffairs as she's leaving only for another armed officer to angrily bat his arm down, a stunt like that would normally lead to an officer being hauled before the IPCC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) as a ''minimum''. [[spoiler: This serves as an [[{{Foreshadowing}} early warning]] that Steve is the KillerOfTheWeek.]]

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety: during "In Plain Sight", Steve Monk a member of the Police '''Firearms division''' jokingly pulls a gun on a disliked woman from InternalAffairs as she's leaving only for a another armed officer to angrily bat his arm down, a stunt like that would normally lead to an officer being hauled before the IPCC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) as a ''minimum''. [[spoiler: This serves as an [[{{Foreshadowing}} early warning]] that Steve is the KillerOfTheWeek.]]

* InternalAffairs: One turns up in "In Plain Sight", were Internal Affairs member Rachel Sharpe is investigating the Police Firearms division (based off [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialist_Firearms_Command SCO19]]) over the supposedly justified shooting of a teenage girl. She's dislike immensely by the officers but is shown to be trying to do a necessary role despite her flaws. [[spoiler: She's also proven to be ''absolutely'' correct. When it's revealed the shooting was bad and that one of the officers is a murderer.]]

* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: One of Nikki's ex boyfriends gives her a particularly harsh one in "After the Fall". He later apologizes, only for Nikki to agree with some of what he said, but points out that it's probably too late for her change now.

* FragileFlower: Nikki, though [[BreakTheCutie largely justified]].

* BetterManhandleTheMurderWeapon: Justified. In "Bloodlines", Harry wakes up in Budapest to notice his girlfriend has been stabbed to death in bed next to him. As he finds the murder weapon , a knife, the murderer comes walking in, causing Harry to take the knife to fend him off. The murderer, in a fit of [[GenreSavvy genre-savviness]], simply disarms Harry and leaves him behind to be found by the Hungarian cops.

* InternalAffairs: One turns up in "In Plain Sight", were Internal Affairs member Rachel Sharpe is investigating the Firearms division (based off [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialist_Firearms_Command SCO19]] over the supposedly justified shooting of a teenage girl. She's dislike immensely by the officers but is shown to be trying to do a necessary role despite her flaws. [[spoiler: She's also proven to be ''absolutely'' correct. When it's revealed the shooting was bad and that one of the officers is a murderer.]]

** Jack in "Fraternity".

British [[ForensicDrama crime/forensic series]], running from 1996 onwards, [[LongRunner now in its twenty-first series]], making it the fourth oldest currently airing crime drama in the world and the longest that isn't German (''Series/{{Tatort}}'' is the winner, the German show having run since 1970).

** [[spoiler: Harry Cunningham]], who is revealed to have left to accept a new job in New York at the beginning of [[spoiler: Season 16]].
** [[spoiler: Sam Ryan]], who returns to her home country to be with her [[spoiler: long lost son at the beginning of Season 8]].
** [[spoiler: Janet Mander]], who apparently moved away after [[spoiler: Leo breaks up with her in Season 15]].

*** Considering how long its been since most of these characters have been seen or even mentioned (in [[spoiler: Sam's]] case, over ten years), it could be considered a LongBusTrip.

** ''Two'' families in "Protection". The family of the missing girl, Lizzie, consist of a very dysfunctional estranged couple who are borderline abusive to each other and let their kid witness it all. [[spoiler: It gets worse when it turns out that the parents have been keeping poor Lizzie hidden this whole time after finding out she'd been sexually abused and accidentally killed her attacker' their reasoning being [[ItsAllAboutMe they didn't want her to be taken off them]]]]. The other family has three kids that have been taken into care against the will, with the eldest child Kevin [[DontSplitUsUp trying desperately to keep them altogether]]. His grandfather reveals the reason they're in care is because [[spoiler: his younger sister got pregnant after being raped and they believe his stepfather, whom his mother refused to leave, is responsible]]. And then, it turns out [[spoiler: the real rapist is the grandfather ''himself''. And as if that weren't bad enough, he raped his daughter too...and is Kevin's father ''as well'' as his grandfather]].

* BritishBrevity: Averted with the show running for ''two decades and counting''; however, with only around 10 episodes per season, each season is much shorter than an equivalent show in the US.

* BritishBrevity: Averted with the show being renewed for a 20th season to air in 2017; however, with only around 10 episodes per season, each season is much shorter than an equivalent show in the US.

British [[ForensicDrama crime/forensic series]], running from 1996 onwards, [[LongRunner now in its twentieth series]], making it the fourth oldest currently airing crime drama in the world and the longest that isn't German (''Series/{{Tatort}}'' is the winner, the German show having run since 1970).

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Kerry and Leo]]

* LongRunner: Recently aired it's 20th season.

* {{Fanservice}}: Jack gets to take his shirt off on several occasions (often justified in that cage fighters often fight shirtless, but still).

* {{Foil}}: Sam Ryan and Nikki Alexander, who replaced the former as the main female character on the show. Sam starts out as an[[SeenItAll experienced]], [[IceQueen somewhat cynical pathologist]] who [[SugarAndIcePersonality doesn't always play nicely with others but has a softer side]], whilst Nikki starts out a newly qualified pathologist, is somewhat idealistic and [[TheHeart wears her heart on her sleeve]], who gradually [[OlderAndWiser becomes thicker-skinned]].

* HugeGuyTinyGirl: A platonic example with Clarissa and Jack. Clarissa (Liz Carr) is under 5ft and looks even shorter at times due to using a wheelchair, whilst Jack (David Caves) is over 6ft and quite muscular.

* WhamEpisode: "Greater Love Part 2", the final episode of Series 16. The mystery's been solved, people are setting up to celebrate the completion of the well, the protagonists are preparing to head back home and Fawzia, Leo's new LoveInterest, is considering coming back with them, giving Leo another shot at happiness. Then [[spoiler:[[TeamDad Leo]]]] spots [[spoiler:the brainwashed soldier]] lurking in the crowds and discovers he's [[spoiler: wearing an explosive vest, set to go off at any minute.]] Knowing there's no time to do anything else, he begins dragging him as far away as possible. And then, [[spoiler: the bomb goes off ''[[KilledOffForReal killing Leo]]'']]. And just in case you weren't certain [[spoiler:he was dead, the next shot is Nikki sitting alone in a plane, [[HeroicBSOD staring into space]], with a coffin in front of her]]. [[spoiler: Whilst the main characters had had several near-misses, they were usually saved in the nick of time and the other regularly killed off characters were guest characters. Not since the first series, when Kerry was killed in a freak accident, had a ''major'' [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore character been killed]]]].

* UnnaturallyBlueLighting is used regularly, particularly in pathology scenes. Partially this is an exercise in fashion and style: many contemporary British dramas were also using the technique. In the pathology scenes, the lighting increases the cold, clinical and confronting atmosphere.

*** The family is a ‘blended’ one, consisting of a married couple, the husband's son from his previous marriage which ended in [[TheLostLenore his wife’s death]], the wife's daughter from a previous marriage that ended in divorce (though [[AmicableExes she, the ex and her new husbands are all still friends, having known each other for years]]), and the new couple’s baby daughter. Everything seems hunky dory…until one day the wife reveals to the husband that [[spoiler: [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe his son isn’t biologically his]] but ''her ex’s'' due to him [[YourCheatingHeart having an affair with his dead wife]]. Why did she tell him this? Because she recently found out that [[SurpriseIncest her daughter and stepson were sleeping together]], being under the impression they were [[FlirtyStepsiblings just stepsiblings]]. The husband [[UnderStatement doesn’t take this well]] and proceeds to ''murder'' his wife and stepdaughter and tries to murder his son (he barely survives and winds up in a coma), leading to the events of the episode. When it comes out that the husband is the killer, he reveals he even considered murdering his [[WouldHurtAChild baby daughter]], but decided not to because she was actually biologically his and “his future”…even though because he got caught, [[AllForNothing he’s going to prison for the rest of his life and will probably never see his daughter again]]. The teen son wakes up from his coma: hurray! Only, now the ex (his real father) has the [[SarcasmMode delightful]] job of telling him just why he’s been in a coma and the rest of his family have been brutally killed]]. And even before the murders [[spoiler: and the accidental incest]], the family wasn’t exactly stable, what with [[spoiler: the affairs]], the fact that the wife is implied to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter be jealous of her husband’s dead first wife and feels he constantly compares them]] and the 'little' incident at a party a few years before the murders, where she briefly planted a kiss on [[HotScientist Harry]] whilst her husband was in the next room.
** ''Two'' families in "Protection". The family of the missing girl, Lizzie, consist of a very dysfunctional estranged couple who are borderline abusive to each other and let their kid witness it all. [[spoiler: It gets worse when it turns out that the parents have been keeping poor Lizzie hidden this whole time after finding out she'd been sexually abused and accidentally killed her attacker' their reasoning being [[ItsAllAboutMe they didn't want her to be taken off them]]]]. The other family has three kids that have been taken into care against the will, with the eldest boy Kevin [[DontSplitUsUp trying desperately to keep them altogether]]. His grandfather reveals the reason they're in care is because [[spoiler: his younger sister got pregnant after being raped and they believe his stepfather, whom his mother refused to leave, is responsible]]. And then, it turns out [[spoiler: the real rapist is the grandfather ''himself''. And as if that weren't bad enough, he raped his daughter too...and is Kevin's father ''as well'' as his grandfather]].

*** The family is a ‘blended’ one, consisting of the married couple, his son from his previous marriage which ended in [[TheLostLenore his wife’s death]], her daughter from a previous marriage that ended in divorce (though [[AmicableExes she, the ex and her new husbands are all still friends, having known each other for years]]), and the new couple’s baby daughter. Everything seems hunky dory…until one day the wife reveals to the husband that [[spoiler: [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe his son isn’t biologically his]] but ''her ex’s'' due to him [[YourCheatingHeart having an affair with his dead wife]]. Why did she tell him this? Because she recently found out that [[SurpriseIncest her daughter and stepson were sleeping together]], being under the impression they were [[FlirtyStepsiblings just stepsiblings]]. The husband [[UnderStatement doesn’t take this well]] and proceeds to ''murder'' his wife and stepdaughter and tries to murder his son (he barely survives and winds up in a coma), leading to the events of the episode. When it comes out that the husband is the killer, he reveals he even considered murdering his [[WouldHurtAChild baby daughter]], but decided not to because she was actually biologically his and “his future”…even though because he got caught, [[AllForNothing he’s going to prison for the rest of his life and will probably never see his daughter again]]. The teen son wakes up from his coma: hurray! Only, now the ex (his real father) has the [[SarcasmMode delightful]] job of telling him just why he’s been in a coma and the rest of his family have been brutally killed]]. And even before the murders [[spoiler: and the accidental incest]], the family wasn’t exactly stable, what with [[spoiler: the affairs]], the fact that the wife is implied to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter be jealous of her husband’s dead first wife and feels he constantly compares them]] and the 'little' incident at a party a few years before the murders, where she briefly planted a kiss on [[HotScientist Harry]] whilst her husband was in the next room.

* DysfunctionalFamily : The family in "Domestic", very much so. For context:
** The family is a ‘blended’ one, consisting of the married couple, his son from his previous marriage which ended in [[TheLostLenore his wife’s death]], her daughter from a previous marriage that ended in divorce (though [[AmicableExes she, the ex and her new husbands are all still friends, having known each other for years]]), and the new couple’s baby daughter. Everything seems hunky dory…until one day the wife reveals to the husband that [[spoiler: [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe his son isn’t biologically his]] but ''her ex’s'' due to him [[YourCheatingHeart having an affair with his dead wife]]. Why did she tell him this? Because she recently found out that [[SurpriseIncest her daughter and stepson were sleeping together]], being under the impression they were [[FlirtyStepsiblings just stepsiblings]]. The husband [[UnderStatement doesn’t take this well]] and proceeds to ''murder'' his wife and stepdaughter and tries to murder his son (he barely survives and winds up in a coma), leading to the events of the episode. When it comes out that the husband is the killer, he reveals he even considered murdering his [[WouldHurtAChild baby daughter]], but decided not to because she was actually biologically his and “his future”…even though because he got caught, [[AllForNothing he’s going to prison for the rest of his life and will probably never see his daughter again]]. The teen son wakes up from his coma: hurray! Only, now the ex (his real father) has the [[SarcasmMode delightful]] job of telling him just why he’s been in a coma and the rest of his family have been brutally killed]]. And even before the murders [[spoiler: and the accidental incest]], the family wasn’t exactly stable, what with [[spoiler: the affairs]], the fact that the wife is implied to [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter be jealous of her husband’s dead first wife and feels he constantly compares them]] and at a party a few years before the murders, she full on tried to make out with [[HotScientist Harry]] whilst her husband was in the next room.

* EverybodyIsSingle: [[AvertedTrope Leo]] was married with a daughter until they were both tragically killed, and he eventually entered a long term relationship with [[TheProfiler a profiler]]; Harry and Nikki, though, will usually end up dating either the victim, the killer, or someone who just ends up getting in the way.

Starred Amanda Burton for the first eight series, until [[PutOnABus her character was written out]] in a plot involving a reunion with her [[LongLostRelative long-lost son]] and a trip to Northern Ireland.

* DysfunctionalFamily : The family in "Domestic", very much so.

* WhamEpisode: "Greater Love Part 2", the final episode of Series 16. The mystery's been solved, people are setting up to celebrate the completion of the well, the protagonists are preparing to head back home and Fawzia, Leo's new LoveInterest, is considering coming back with them, giving Leo another shot at happiness. Then [[spoiler:[[TeamDad Leo]]]] spots [[spoiler:the brainwashed soldier]] lurking in the crowds and discovers he's [[spoiler: wearing an explosive vest, set to go off at any minute.]] Knowing there's no time to do anything else, he begins dragging him as far away as possible. And then, [[spoiler: the bomb goes off ''[[KilledOffForReal killing Leo]]'']]. And just in case you weren't certain [[spoiler:he was dead, the next shot is Nikki sitting alone in a plane, [[HeroicBSOD staring into space]], with a coffin in front of her]]. [[spoiler: Whilst the main characters had had several near-misses, they were usually saved in the nick of time and the other regularly killed off characters were guest characters. Not since the first series, when Kerry was killed in a freak accident, [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore had a ''major'' character been killed]]]].

* WhamEpisode: "Greater Love Part 2", the final episode of Series 16. The mystery's been solved, people are setting up to celebrate the completion of the well, the protagonists are preparing to head back home and Fawzia, Leo's new LoveInterest, is considering coming back with them, giving Leo another shot at happiness. Then [[spoiler: [[TeamDad Leo]] spots the brainwashed soldier lurking in the crowds and discovers he's wearing an explosive vest, set to go off at any minute. Knowing there's no time to do anything else, he begins dragging him as far away as possible. And then, the bomb goes off ''[[KilledOffForReal killing Leo]]''. And just in case you weren't certain he was dead, the next shot is Nikki sitting alone in a plane, [[HeroicBSOD staring into space]], with a coffin in front of her. Whilst the main characters had had several near-misses, they were usually saved in the nick of time and the other regularly killed off characters were guest characters. Not since the first series, when Kerry was killed in a freak accident, [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore had a ''major'' character been killed]].