Sunny Khan and Jess James return (Image: ITV)
Unforgotten is coming back to ITV and it sees the return of Sinéad Keenan and Sanjeev Bhaskar as DCI Jess James and DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan. Back in November a first-look image showed the detectives reuniting as their partnership continues to grow.
This will be the second season with Sinéad at the heart as the new leading detective, taking over from Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) following her shocking death in the season four finale.
The series begins when suspected human remains are uncovered on Whitney Marsh and Jess and Sunny are called to the scene straight away. Analysis reveals the remains are relatively recent and the body was already dismembered when it was dumped.
From this, the detective duo intensify their search, certain that other body parts may not be far away. Creator Chris Lang said he was worried at first that the content may not feel so relevant by the time the new series was broadcast.
He explained: “I needn’t have worried – series six is about a divided UK. So as we approach [release], our country seems more polarised than ever on all the key issues that affect the way we live today. From immigration, to ‘woke’, to the environment, , the handling of the pandemic, the media (the list could go on) we seem furiously entrenched in our positions, and profoundly reluctant to engage with contrary views.”
Melinda Ricci and her husband Patrick (Image: ITV)
When is Unforgotten season 6 out?
As the investigation unfolds, viewers are introduced to a new cast of characters who all live seemingly separate lives.
However, they are intricately connected by their pasts and it is up to Jess, Sunny, and their team to uncover these hidden links and expose the truth behind the gruesome murder.
Unforgotten season six begins on ITV on February 9 with the first episode dropping at 9pm. The second episode will air the following day, February 10, at 9pm.
How many episodes are in Unforgotten season 6?
As usual, the new season will be made up of six episodes and all episodes will be an hour long.
The episode one synopsis reads: “When a spine is dredged out of Whitney Marsh, a new case begins for Jess and Sunny’s team at Bishop Street CID.
“Four potential suspects, Juliet, Melinda, Asif, and Marty, each have secrets to hide.”
Each of the new episodes is written by Chris Lang and directed by Andy Wilson.
All five series of Unforgotten are currently available to watch on ITVX.
Don’t miss… [EXPLAINER]
Victoria Hamilton as Juliet Cooper (Image: ITV)
Who is in the cast of Unforgotten season 6?
DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan – Sanjeev Bhaskar
Sunny is back once again and actor Sanjeev Bhaskar explained how his character is finally starting to move forward after Cassie’s death.
He said: “Sunny is definitely in a better place and a little more hopeful. I think he has re-found, not that he ever lost enthusiasm for the job, but he’s re-found his enthusiasm for the work environment that he’s in, so he’s definitely in a better place than he was.”
Sanjeev Bhaskar is a 61-year-old British actor and comedian best known for his work in Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars.
He is married to Meera Syal and has one child.
DCI Jessica ‘Jessie’ James – Sinéad Keenan
It is Jessie’s second year on the job and Sinéad Keenan said it was “really lovely” coming back for another series after her debut.
She said: “It was lovely to see everyone. It’s such a lovely crew and the same team, so it was great to work with everyone again.
“It was a bit more of a relaxed first day for me this time around, so it was lovely. It was just a joy to come back to.”
Sinéad Keenan is a 47-year-old Irish actress known for playing Farrah Phelan in Fair City and Nina Pickering in Being Human.
In 2012, she married film and television director Chris McGill, with whom she has two sons.
Juliet Cooper – Victoria Hamilton
Juliet is a powerful woman of high status, who has a teenage daughter who is always getting into trouble at school.
Actress Victoria Hamilton added: “You see her seemingly juggling more than most and being very much in control. I think Juliet is one of those people who is used to feeling like the brightest person in the room.”
Victoria Hamilton is a 53-year-old English actress mostly known for her costume drama work, notably Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion and Mansfield Park.
She is married to Mark Bazeley and has two children.
Maximilian Fairley plays Marty Bains (Image: ITV)
Melinda Ricci – Myanna Buring
Melinda is one of the main subjects in this murder inquiry and she works as a political and social commentator.
Melinda and her partner Patrick (Emmett J Scanlan) were involved in a horrific car accident which left Patrick disabled from the waist down.
Actress Myanna Buring said of her character: “In the character of Melinda Chris is addressing these more extreme, frightening views that exist in our country and are very prevalent right now, especially with our recent riots, you’re seeing this type of flare up, and it feels incredibly topical.
“And what I think Chris does is that he acknowledges that these kinds of views exist, and essentially, they come from a place of fear and so it’s okay to acknowledge them and address them, so we don’t ignore them.”
Myanna Buring is a 45-year-old Swedish-born British actress, known for her role as Tanya of the Denali Coven in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Part 2.
The mother-of-one went on to star in Ripper Street and The Witcher.
Marty Bains – Maximilian Fairley
Marty is an Autistic man who lives with his mother in Deal, Kent. He is recovering from a traumatic event that occurred during the pandemic and is trying to hold on to a sense of security.
Actor Maximilian Fairley, who is making his TV debut in the show, explained: “A lot of people fail to grasp that Autism is a spectrum and every individual is very different.
“Autism is frequently depicted as being emotionally monotonous, lacking in social skills but the truth is that some people with Autism are actually very capable socially and may have challenges from feeling emotions to a stronger degree than neurotypical individuals do. I hope that in my own work I can help audiences understand just how broad the spectrum is.”
Maximilian Fairley is a graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Asif Syed – Elham Ehsas
Asif comes from Afghanistan, but he has built up a life for himself in Britain that he is very proud of.
He feels he has achieved a sense of freedom that he couldn’t have had in Afghanistan.
Actor Elham Ehsas added: “To an extent I could relate because I too am an immigrant, I’m a refugee from Afghanistan just like Asif, I left when I was 10.
“So that I could relate to, but it was a role I hadn’t done before, which is what excited me but also scared me because I wanted to do justice to this character.”
Elham Ehsas is known for his roles in The Kite Runner, Young Wallander and War Machine.
Returning cast members include Andrew Lancel as Jess’s husband Steve and Kate Robbins as her mother, Kate.
Jess and Sunny’s police team features Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting, Carolina Main as DC Fran Lingley, and Pippa Nixon as DC Kaz Willets.
Georgia Mackenzie also returns as Pathologist Dr Leanne Balcombe.
Unforgotten airs on ITV on February 9 at 9pm