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The Worst Episodes of Silent Witness

Every episode of Silent Witness ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Silent Witness!

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A team of exceptional forensic pathologists and scientists investigate heinous crimes and use their skills to catch the people responsible.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 2 - The Penitent (2)
    5.5/10(427 votes)

    #1 - The Penitent (2)

    S26:E2

    Nikki becomes even more involved with the Ndrangheta mafia-group and Jack uncovers some disturbing leads. An unlikely alliance leads Nikki closer to the truth, but not without some collateral damage.

    Director:Dudi Appleton
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Silent Witness Season 15 Episode 10 - Fear (2)
    6.0/10(268 votes)

    #2 - Fear (2)

    S15:E10

    Leo is determined to learn the circumstances about the death of Eve Gilston. Nikki and Harry manage to find the nun who performed the exorcism but are surprised by what they find. Eve’s mother Beth Gilston is confronted by Leo and che omes close tod iscovering the truth about what actually happened the night before her daughter died.

    Director:Mike Barker
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 1 - The Penitent (1)
    6.0/10(434 votes)

    #3 - The Penitent (1)

    S26:E1

    When a man plummets from a high-rise building, the Lyell team cross paths with the NCA and a notorious mafia group, pushing Nikki to make a tough decision.

    Director:Dudi Appleton
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 6 - Star (2)
    6.1/10(298 votes)

    #4 - Star (2)

    S26:E6

    The investigation continues to take unexpected turns, with Nikki managing to get behind the mask of the lead suspect. Jack has a breakthrough at the festival site and Nikki takes a dangerous opportunity. A surprise event at the Lyell brings some hope.

    Director:Bindu De Stoppani
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 4 - Familiar Faces (2)
    6.2/10(300 votes)

    #5 - Familiar Faces (2)

    S26:E4

    The Lyell team work together to find out why the lorry was found with bodies inside and a dead driver at the wheel, and are truly shocked to discover where it leads them. Gabriel becomes emotionally invested and is presented with an ethical dilemma, and Jack gets a surprise visit.

    Director:Max Myers
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Silent Witness Season 29 Episode 6 - The Enemy Within (2)
    6.2/10(287 votes)

    #6 - The Enemy Within (2)

    S29:E6

    As social media inflames tensions in the community, finding out the truth of who killed Alex Nelson becomes even more vital.

    Director:Michael Lacey
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Silent Witness Season 15 Episode 9 - Fear (1)
    6.3/10(275 votes)

    #7 - Fear (1)

    S15:E9

    One of Delaney’s patients, Eve Gilston, is discovered dead in her bed. The coroner’s verdict is sudden arrhythmic death syndrome but Delaney is not convinced and gets Leo to investigate. Suspicion soon falls on Eve’s dad Anthony, who lost the family fortune, and his wife Beth.

    Director:Mike Barker
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 3 - Familiar Faces (1)
    6.4/10(315 votes)

    #8 - Familiar Faces (1)

    S26:E3

    A lorry is found with people locked inside, some dead. With the survivors refusing to speak, Nikki and the team must use their pathological and forensic skills to identify them.

    Director:Max Myers
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 5 - Star (1)
    6.4/10(313 votes)

    #9 - Star (1)

    S26:E5

    The Lyell team are thrown into the dark side of social media, where nothing is as it seems, and the perfect profiles of the influencers they are investigating raise disturbing questions. As a heavily pregnant DI asks the team for their expertise, are they running out of time to solve this case?

    Director:Bindu De Stoppani
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 8 - Hearts of Darkness (2)
    6.4/10(265 votes)

    #10 - Hearts of Darkness (2)

    S26:E8

    The Lyell team return to the tunnel and uncover some difficult truths, while the police raid the protester camp, desperate for answers. Family ties are pushed to their limits.

    Director:Christine Lalla
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Silent Witness Season 29 Episode 5 - The Enemy Within (1)
    6.4/10(288 votes)

    #11 - The Enemy Within (1)

    S29:E5

    Nikki, Jack and the team must navigate divisions in their new city in order to solve a racially motivated murder, but not everything is as it seems.

    Director:Michael Lacey
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Silent Witness Season 29 Episode 10 - Shame (2)
    6.5/10(196 votes)

    #12 - Shame (2)

    S29:E10

    After the case takes an unexpected turn, the death of a second victim brings the team closer to uncovering the truth, and Nikki finds herself in danger.

    Directors:Tracey Rooney, Michael Lacey
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Silent Witness Season 24 Episode 10 - Matters of Life and Death (2)
    6.6/10(343 votes)

    #13 - Matters of Life and Death (2)

    S24:E10

    Stranded in the flooded care home, Jack and Simone fight to keep the residents alive - but Nikki discovers that they may be trapped inside with the killer.

    Director:Lawrence Till
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Silent Witness Season 26 Episode 7 - Hearts of Darkness (1)
    6.6/10(272 votes)

    #14 - Hearts of Darkness (1)

    S26:E7

    Levelling-up leaders and environmental activists clash in a small town trying to look to the future. With a sabotaged train and a dead mayor, the activists become suspects.

    Director:Christine Lalla
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Silent Witness Season 24 Episode 9 - Matters of Life and Death (1)
    6.7/10(340 votes)

    #15 - Matters of Life and Death (1)

    S24:E9

    Nikki’s students make an alarming discovery while dissecting a body donated for their training. Jack and Simone try to save care home residents from a flood.

    Director:Lawrence Till
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Silent Witness Season 24 Episode 7 - Brother's Keeper (1)
    6.8/10(303 votes)

    #16 - Brother's Keeper (1)

    S24:E7

    The murder of a promising boxer draws Nikki and Jack into the world of underground boxing. Meanwhile, Jack's brother Ryan is released from prison.

    Director:Paulette Randall
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Silent Witness Season 24 Episode 8 - Brother's Keeper (2)
    6.8/10(284 votes)

    #17 - Brother's Keeper (2)

    S24:E8

    Jack, Nikki and Simone investigate another death connected to the underground boxing ring. Jack's loyalty is tested when he fears Ryan has put Cara in danger.

    Director:Paulette Randall
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Silent Witness Season 11 Episode 3 - Suffer the Children (1)
    6.9/10(224 votes)

    #18 - Suffer the Children (1)

    S11:E3

    When the mutilated body of a young boy is pulled from the river, Leo is determined to give him an identity and to bring his killers to justice.

    Director:Brendan Maher
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Silent Witness Season 11 Episode 4 - Suffer the Children (2)
    6.9/10(209 votes)

    #19 - Suffer the Children (2)

    S11:E4

    Leo refuses to back down in his search for the killers of the young boy, despite threats and increasing racial tension.

    Director:Brendan Maher
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Silent Witness Season 13 Episode 9 - Home (1)
    6.9/10(209 votes)

    #20 - Home (1)

    S13:E9

    When a Zimbabwean asylum seeker is unfairly deported to South Africa, Leo needs to find a way to help her return to the UK.

    Director:Paul Wilmshurst
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Silent Witness Season 13 Episode 10 - Home (2)
    6.9/10(195 votes)

    #21 - Home (2)

    S13:E10

    Nikki is forced to make some hard choices when she discovers that Anton has been less than honest with her.

    Director:Paul Wilmshurst
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Silent Witness Season 16 Episode 9 - Greater Love (1)
    6.9/10(263 votes)

    #22 - Greater Love (1)

    S16:E9

    Human remains found on an Afghan water supply project send Leo, Nikki and Jack to the war-torn region to establish if it is a missing British soldier.

    Director:Douglas Mackinnon
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Silent Witness Season 25 Episode 3 - History (3)
    6.9/10(290 votes)

    #23 - History (3)

    S25:E3

    When a woman confesses to murdering her husband, the Lyell team must determine if all is as it seems. Meanwhile, Simone is shocked to be reunited with a detective from her childhood and struggles to untangle her past.

    Director:Tracey Larcombe
    Writer:Caroline Carver

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  24. Silent Witness Season 29 Episode 7 - Grace of God (1)
    6.9/10(259 votes)

    #24 - Grace of God (1)

    S29:E7

    As Jack feels the weight of local gun-related deaths on his shoulders, he takes it out on a punter in a bar fight and must decide whether to involve Nikki and the Bowman team.

    Director:Tracey Rooney
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Silent Witness Season 29 Episode 8 - Grace of God (2)
    6.9/10(241 votes)

    #25 - Grace of God (2)

    S29:E8

    Nikki and the rest of the Bowman team must race against the clock to prove Jack innocent before they are also found guilty of their own transgressions.

    Director:Tracey Rooney
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Penitent (2)" is the worst rated episode of "Silent Witness". It scored 5.5/10 based on 427 votes. Directed by Dudi Appleton and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/3/2023. This episode scored 0.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Fear (2)".