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DISAPPEARING ACT

Where the original cast of Silent Witness are now as show returns for new series

SILENT Witness has been on TV for twenty-six series now, and is still a fan favourite.

The BBC crime drama first aired back in 1996, but the line-up has changed over the years.

Silent Witness has returned to our screens
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Silent Witness has returned to our screensCredit: Alamy

Over the past 27 years a number of famous faces have landed roles in the much-loved show.

Emilia Fox now heads up the show as Dr Nikki Alexander.

But have you ever wondered where the original cast of Silent Witness are now?

Let's take a look...

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Amanda Burton as Sam Ryan

Amanda played Sam Ryan from 1996 to 2004
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Amanda played Sam Ryan from 1996 to 2004Credit: Alamy
She recently played Karen Fisher in Marcella
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She recently played Karen Fisher in MarcellaCredit: Alamy

Amanda played Dr Sam Ryan for a whopping eight series from 1996 to 2004.

She took on the role of the protagonist for a total of 54 episodes, who was a forensic pathologist.

During her time on the show she also starred in Forgotten, Little Bird and Pollyanna.

After her stint on Silent Witness she starred in BBC's Waterloo Road as Karen Fisher,  ITV's Marcella as Karen Fisher and Carole Latimer in Midsomer Murders.

Amanda made a return to the show in 2022 for the twenty-fifth series after a number of years away.

William Armstrong as Trevor Stewart

William played Dr Sam Ryan's colleague Trevor
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William played Dr Sam Ryan's colleague TrevorCredit: Alamy
The actor is from Canada and has played roles in various other shows
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The actor is from Canada and has played roles in various other showsCredit: Sourced

The Canadian actor starred in Silent Witness as Sam Ryan's colleague Trevor from 1996 to 1998.

William has kept himself out of the limelight since, but has taken part in a number of impressive films.

In 2005 he starred in horror film A Sound Of Thunder, two years later he landed a role in La Vie En Rose and in 2008 he was in The Dark Knight.

William has also starred in BBC shows like Doctors and Casualty.

Sam Parks as Fred Dale

Sam's character didn't say much in Silent Witness
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Sam's character didn't say much in Silent WitnessCredit: BBC IPLAYER
Sam Parks has kept a low profile since his stint on the show
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Sam Parks has kept a low profile since his stint on the showCredit: IDMB

Sam's alter-ego Fred was Dr Sam Ryan's main assistant who helped her at post mortems, identified DNA and helped her solve the crime.

He never spoke on the show and left after season three.

Sam went on to star in Les Miserables in 2012 and in 2021 appeared in Last Night in Soho.

Ruth McCabe as Wyn Ryan

Ruth McCabe played Wyn from 1996 to 1998
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Ruth McCabe played Wyn from 1996 to 1998Credit: IDMB
Ruth pictured at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2011
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Ruth pictured at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2011Credit: Getty

Irish actress Ruth took on the role of Sam Ryan's older sister Wyn from season one to three.

Her alter-ego also had a son called Ricky.

After leaving the show she played Margaret McCutcheon in Any Time Now, Ma Braden in Breakfast on Pluto and Mother Barbara in Philomena.

Ruth Gemmel as Kerry Cox

Ruth's character was a trainee police officer
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Ruth's character was a trainee police officer
Ruth returned to Silent witness as two different characters after playing Kerry
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Ruth returned to Silent witness as two different characters after playing KerryCredit: Getty

Ruth - who has starred in Utopia, Casualty and Midsomer Murders - played trainee copper Kerry Cox.

After the first series she was killed off.

In 2006 she returned as DI Beth Ashdown in the second episode of Terminus, and again in 2014 as Ellie Brooke.

The actress has gone on to star in a huge list of TV programmes and films.

Some include The Bill, Holby City, the Tracy Beaker franchise and Netflix's Bridgerton.

Matthew Steer as Ricky Ryan

Matthew played teen Ricky Ryan
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Matthew played teen Ricky RyanCredit: IMDB

Actor and writer Matthew played teenager Ricky Ryan - the nephew of protagonist Sam.

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He's also been in Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part one, Hamlet, Afer Ever After and Siblings.

Other credits include The Crown, Cinderella, and Les Misérables.

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