Silent Witness cast member Nigel McCrery has died aged 71 (Image: BBC)
and New Tricks creator Nigel McCrery has died at the age of 71. The TV stalwart was diagnosed with a terminal illness in October 2024.
His agent confirmed the news of his death “with a heavy heart”.
They told News: “It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news of screenwriter, author and producer Nigel McCrery’s passing.
“As the creative mind behind such hits as the much loved long running drama series Silent Witness and New Tricks, Nigel captivated and inspired audiences for years with his work.
“His numerous contributions to the arts will always be remembered. Nigel had an incredible career and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Nigel McCrery is the creator of hit BBC drama Silent Witness (Image: BBC)
The creator of the crime dramas spoke publicly about his “shock” following his terminal diagnosis.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Saturday Live programme in November, Nigel said he received the news three weeks ago.
“It comes as quite a shock,” he said.
“I mean people deal with their deaths in different ways, and I think it’s all very, very individual to each of us. But I think for a little while you do go into shock – or I did, and I was in a bit of a state.”
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Nigel McCrery opened up about his terminal illness (Image: BBC)
Speaking about his diagnosis, the writer told Saturday Live: “I used to cry a lot, I used to sob a lot.”
“It’s not that I’m scared of dying, I’m actually not. I have wonderful granddaughters, and it’s missing them growing up. It’s the things I’ll be missing by not being around that I’ll find the hardest to cope with.”
He added that he was “more scared to cry in front of his granddaughters”.
At the time of his candid interview he did not specify the nature of his illness.
Nigel McCrery has sadly died at the age of 71 (Image: BBC)
Tributes have since poured in for the TV legend as one X user penned: “So sad to hear about Nigel McCrery’s passing. He was a talented writer and creator of Silent Witness. His work will be deeply missed by many fans of the show. RIP Nigel McCrery, your legacy lives on through your work.”
Another wrote: “Just found out that the Nigel McCrery the creator of Silent Witness has passed. He was unbelievably supportive, generous & kind to me when my novel was published & to my amazement gave a wonderful quote for the cover. A one of a kind. RIP #silentwitness.”
Nigel served as a police officer with the murder squad in Nottingham before beginning his TV career.
He initially joined the on a graduate entry scheme in 1990 before moving to the drama department.
He used his background in policing to create Backup, a drama about a police operational support unit. It ran between 1995 and 1997.
Nigel then went on to create the drama Silent Witness in 1996 which follows forensic pathologists and scientists investigating crimes and trying to catch the people responsible.
The show initially starred Amanda Burton and then Emilia Fox.
In 2005 he created New Tricks which starred the late legendary actor Dennis Waterman.
The show, which focused on three retired police officers who were drafted in to help solve cold cases ran for 10 years.
Nigel was also the author of several novels and non-fiction books.