Leave Silent Witness? Not over anyone’s dead body, says Richard Lintern

THE make-believe world of Silent Witness autopsies can be a real-life emotional rollercoaster, according to Richard Lintern.

Richard plays forensic pathologist Thomas Chamberlain in the crime drama, currently back for a new series on BBC1.

“The autopsy scenes are my big days,” Richard told iN10.

“Even after doing this for five years, the ‘corpse’ has an emotional impact on me.

“Even though the actor was just outside 10 minutes ago having a cigarette and you know it’s not real, it’s bizarre how much it can affect you.

“It’s like the power of suggestion. The make-up is put on and the storyline is at the top of your head, which is usually something about what happened to them in the last few minutes of their lives – and in Silent Witness it’s rarely natural causes.

“You’re often recounting that to a police officer and I’d defy anyone not to have an emotional reaction.

“It’s even worse if the body is that of a child. Seeing that on the slab is awful.”

As the boss of the Lyell Centre, Richard’s senior doc Thomas is often the one conducting the autopsies while Emilia Fox and David Caves, who play Nikki and Jack, are out at crime scenes.

The series has leading experts on hand so Richard can ask any questions that help ensure accuracy. And he admits he has the deepest admiration for those that do the job for real.

“The forensic pathologists we work with have been involved in major topical issues like Grenfell Tower or immigrants dying in lorries coming into the country.

“The way they talk about their jobs and their lives is compelling. They are very impressive individuals.

“They talk matter-of-factly about things like what fire damage can do to skin or the difference when a bullet penetrates bone as opposed to muscle.

“But they always do it with the understanding that this has happened to someone real and not just a dummy in training. There is always a respect.”

Richard took over from long-running Centre boss Leo (William Gaminara) in in 2014. Along with Emilia, David and Liz Carr, who plays Clarissa, he’s right at the heart of the show which is now in its 21st series.

He says they are a close-knit a group off-screen as on – he’s set to phone Emilia to sort out a drinks catch-up as soon as he’s finished speaking to iN10 – and reckons that bond helps.

“The audience keeps on re-inventing itself,” says Richard.

“We continue to have the strong core audience who’ve been with us for years, but we seem to get a new generation coming along all the time.

“The social media reaction comes from a much younger audience than you might expect for the show.

“And the strength of the show goes right back to that original concept, the silent witness of a body speaking from beyond life.”

In an age where shows are lucky to get two or three series, to be still pulling in huge audiences after more than 20 years is remarkable. The success is such that the next series has already been commissioned, with Richard and the rest of the team due to start filming again in just a couple of months’ time.

Making the 10 episodes will take him right through until November, which limits what else he might be able to do.

But it will be a little less hectic than the last series when he managed fitting in work on Netflix series The Crown.

Having had an impressive stage and screen career before Silent Witness, he’d like to slot in other roles, but you won’t find Richard complaining.

“From an acting perspective this is just a joy,” he adds. “I’ve been able to do a couple of plays as well as The Crown and I do miss other things.

“So I’m not as free as I’d like. But actors have to put up and shut up.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve got one of the best jobs in British television and Silent Witness is a complete delight.”

Silent Witness, BBC1, Mon & Tue, 9pm.