While fans are still getting over the death of her character Cassie Stuart, Unforgotten bosses have now confirmed who will replace Nicola Walker in the much loved drama.
Nicola's ITV alter ego Cassie was involved in a car crash in the penultimate episode of series 4 and ended up dying from her injuries after millions of viewers were left fearing the worst.
Unforgotten producers decision to kill off Cassie sparked outrage amongst many fans and now they have been given the news that she will be replaced by Sinead Keenan.
Sinead will join Sanjeev Bhaskar's DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan as DCI Jessica James for the new series, with filming set to get going in London this month.
Sinead, who was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in ITV drama Little Boy Blue, said: "I have long been an admirer of Chris Lang’s work so I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Unforgotten team. I’m very much looking forward to working with the extraordinary cast led by the brilliant and incredibly lovely, Sanjeev Bhaskar.
"And I’m hoping that if I play my cards right I might even get to take a peek in Sunny’s backpack!”
The new series of Unforgotten opens with the clock ticking down to DCI James’s first day in her new job with an unforeseen and devastating introduction to her family life.
An ITV preview teases: "Determined to make a good first impression with her new colleagues, will Jess be in the right frame of mind to deliver and inspire the team?
"And inevitably how will the ghost of much-loved former colleague Cassie Stuart haunt her? After all, Cassie will be big shoes for her to fill. Does she have the resolve, professionalism and spirit to live up to her much-admired and respected predecessor?
"Jess' first case is the discovery of human remains in a newly renovated period property in Hammersmith, London. But how long have they been there and is this a murder dating back to the 1930’s or has the body been disposed of in more recent times?"