Silent Witness on BBC One: Why it isn't on tonight and when is the next episode
It's another unwelcome hiccup in the schedules
Silent Witness fans may riot tonight when they tune into their favourite crime drama and find it’s not on, but why isn’t it on and when is the next episode?
Series 29 has already miffed some dedicated viewers. First of all, the new series landed a month later than usual to make way for Lynley.
Then, episodes 3 and 4 were pulled from the schedules at the last minute. Although, BBC One made the right call when they swapped the scheduled episodes as a result of a tragic incident in Birmingham, fans were left bewildered about the sudden swap to the advertised running order.
This week, viewers will no doubt be left confused again when Silent Witness once again is moved in the schedules. So why isn’t Silent Witness on tonight? And when can fans watch the next episode?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why isn’t Silent Witness on tonight?
Silent Witness fans will be wondering why the show isn’t on tonight. This week, the BBC One schedules have been left in disarray following the football on Friday, February 13, 2026. On Friday, the Beeb aired the Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup from 7.30pm to 10pm. Of course, the Hull City v Chelsea game meant that Death in Paradise was kicked out of the schedules. Not a good score for fans of the crime drama.
This has now had a domino effect on the rest of the week’s TV shows. Death in Paradise now airs on Monday night (February 16) instead of the usual Silent Witness episode.
Fans will know that Death in Paradise always goes out on a Friday night. Meanwhile, Silent Witness historically goes out on a Monday and Tuesday.
But not this week. The subsequent delay means that the latest episodes of Silent Witness series 29 have been pushed along in the week.
When is the next episode on?
Silent Witness fans can expect to see the ‘missing’ episodes on Tuesday and Wednesday this week (February 17 and 18, 2026). They will air at 9pm on BBC One – its usual time slot even if it isn’t its usual days. If you can’t wait until Tuesday, they will drop on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Monday, February 16, 2026 from 6am.
Subsequent episodes of the Birmingham-based forensic drama will go back to their usual days – Mondays and Tuesdays – from now on.
In episodes 5 and 6, entitled The Enemy Within, the forensic crime team look into a fatal stabbing that appears to have been racially motivated. And, as the investigation unfolds and a likely suspect is discovered, racial tension rise all across the city…
This is, of course, the rescheduled episodes due to air the week before. The episodes were quickly swapped when a real life fatal stabbing took place in Birmingham that week.
Viewers react to the news
Understandably Silent Witness fans weren’t happy when the news was first announced about why Silent Witness isn’t on tonight.
One wrote: “What time is Death on Paradise on Monday 16th? I hope it doesn’t clash with Silent Witness???”
Another said: “Why is Silent Witness being bumped on the 16th Feb?”
A third spoke for many when they seethed: “Bleddy football ruining my evenings!”
