Fans were left heartbroken at the end of Unforgotten season 4 when DCI Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker, was tragically killed off. But there is good news for fans because Unforgotten season 5 will see Sinéad Keenan joining the cast as DCI Jessica James.
Dublin-born Sinéad, who was also BAFTA nominated for her role as Melanie Jones in Little Boy Blue, begins filming her new role later this month alongside BAFTA-nominated Sanjeev Bhaskar who has played DI Sunil 'Sunny' Khan in four previous series of the hugely successful drama.
Sunny and Jessica will join forces to crack more cold murder cases after season 4 of the ITV drama saw DCI Cassie Stuart involved in a horrific car crash which, despite surgery, tragically left her brain-damaged before she eventually died.
Speaking of her new role as Jessica in Unforgotten, Sinéad Keenan said: “I have long been an admirer of Chris Lang’s work so I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Unforgotten team.
"I’m very much looking forward to working with the extraordinary cast led by the brilliant and incredibly lovely, Sanjeev Bhaskar. And I’m hoping that if I play my cards right I might even get to take a peek in Sunny’s backpack!"
Producer Chris Lang added: “And so it begins, a new Unforgotten journey — and it’s scary, for Sunny and the Bishop Street team, for the audience, for all of us. But it’s also very, very, exciting, and I cannot wait for you to meet DCI Jessica ‘Jessie’ James, played by the always brilliant, Sinéad Keenan.”
ITV has also hinted that Jessica's homelife is set to be as gripping as her new job when the new series opens with the clock ticking down to her first day in her new job with an unforeseen and devastating introduction to her family life.
Determined to make a good first impression with her new colleagues, will Jess be in the right frame of mind to deliver and inspire the team?
And inevitably how will the ghost of much-loved former colleague Cassie Stuart haunt her? After all, Cassie will be big shoes for her to fill. Does she have the resolve, professionalism and spirit to live up to her much-admired and respected predecessor?
Once again, the new series will see Sunny tasked with solving a historical murder mystery, and this time Jessica will be on hand to help another victim get the justice they deserve.
Jess’s first case is the discovery of human remains in a newly renovated period property in Hammersmith, London. But how long have they been there and is this a murder dating back to the 1930s or has the body been disposed of in more recent times?
Did you miss Unforgotten season 4? You can catch up on ITV Hub in the UK and Prime Video in the US.
For even more shows to enjoy, check out our TV Guide.
