One of several British crime series of the 1990s to enjoy popularity on both sides of the Atlantic,
Silent Witness
starred Amanda Burton as Professor Sam Ryan, a police pathologist based at London University. Disdaining the assistance of the Law, Sam preferred to solve perplexing murder cases all by herself, using the evidence at hand in her well-stocked forensic laboratory. Like the American series
Law & Order
, the characters were defined by their professional lives, with precious few glimpses into their off-hours activities. Sarah Leonard was heard during the opening credits singing the memorable title song. Created by Nigel McCrery, the series debuted over BBC1 on February 21, 1996, yielding 18 50-minute episodes (many of them two-parters) and one 95-minute TV movie.
subsequently aired in the United States over the A&E cable network.