'2026 was a new beginning'

Emilia Fox on the latest series of Silent Witness and juggling work with motherhood

- VICKI POWER

It's been a year of change for Silent Witness star Emilia Fox. After 21 years of filming the hit show in a studio very close to her west London home, she's followed the series to its new home in Birmingham.

Now forensic pathologist: Dr Nikki Alexander heads a Midlands morgue alongside her new husband, Jack Hodgson (David Caves), and colleagues Professor Harriet Maven (Maggie Steed) and Kit Brooks (Francesca Mills).

Despite having to sacrifice the convenience of working near home, Emilia embraced the change. 'They gave us a brand-new pathology lab and it was fun having a new place for the characters to explore,' says Emilia, 51. 'I never knew Birmingham was such a beautiful city - It feels like a very young city because of the university life there, and all the different quarters - the jewellery quarter is just beautiful and I've had some of the most delicious meals there. It's important that a show changes with time.' But it means Emilia has had to commute home when possible to see Rose, 15, her daughter from a previous relationship.

It's been made easier by the fact that Rose decided to go to boarding school, just like her mother did at the age of 13.