Silent Witness is returning to screens for series 25 and is marking the anniversary with a very familiar face. Amanda Burton will reprise her role as Sam Ryan 18 years after leaving the longest-running crime drama currently on television.
Amanda first appeared in the lead role of pathologist Sam Ryan in 1996, starring in 54 episodes before leaving in 2004. She will join Emilia Fox, who has played Dr Nikki Alexander since series 8, in the six-part series.
The 65-year-old actress has been busy since she left BBC's Silent Witness almost two decades ago, appearing in shows such as Marcella, Waterloo Road, and Anne Boleyn. Speaking about her return after 18 years, Amanda said she was shocked by the request.
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"It's wonderful to be very surprised sometimes," she explained: "Genuinely, these things don't often come one's way. I just thought, 'What a great idea! How brilliant that they're thinking of doing that!'
"I thought the storyline was quite bold and I really liked that. After meeting the producers, I just loved what they were thinking for Sam, I was very much on their wavelength. It was such an attractive idea and I would have been absolutely mad not to do it!"
The new series will open in Liverpool with an assassination attempt and Sam Ryan calling on the Lyell team with a plea for help seventeen years after leaving the Lyell. Taking about Amanda's return for the landmark series, Emilia said: "It's wonderful that we're celebrating with Amanda. We wouldn't be where we are today without her. It's her legacy we live with.
"Sam is such a pioneering figure. Back then, female leads were few and far between. Going into Silent Witness, I felt that there was no way I could take over from Amanda, but the producers said, 'Don't worry, we'll take it in a different direction.' The thing I feel so proud about is the way the show has evolved. But it all started with Amanda and Sam Ryan."
At the time of her exit, Amanda said it was "time to move on" after eight years on the show. Amanda's departure saw her character Sam return home to Ireland after a member of her family was implicated in a murder. For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
