Viewers of Silent Witness were blindsided following the “harrowing” death of one of its main characters.
The long-running BBC drama, which began in 1996, aired what fans are deeming its most shocking episode yet following the sudden death of Dr Thomas Chamberlain (Richard Lintern).
Lintern’s character has been a beloved member of the forensic team at the heart of the series since his arrival in 2014.
The episode saw him choke to death in front of Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Clarissa Mullery (Liz Carr) after being exposed to a nerve agent he discovered in a vial that was lodged in the throat of a dead body.
Nikki and Clarissa can be seen watching on in shock as he heroically prevents them from entering the room, and dies moments later.
The tragic incident was followed by the departure of Clarissa.
“That’s one of the most harrowing death scenes ever on TV,” one viewer wrote, with another adding: “Didn’t even really like Thomas and am completely in bits.”
Another viewer added: “I’ve never felt so heartbroken watching Silent Witness.”
Speaking about her decision to leave the series ahead of its 25th anniversary in 2021, Carr said: “To quote Clarissa, ‘I just know, deep down – that it’s time for me to move on, to focus less on the dead and more on the living. On life’.”
She first appeared on the series in 2013.
