THE BBC has pulled an episode of Silent Witness from its TV schedule after a real-life stabbing in Birmingham mirrored a storyline.
The decision was made to postpone the release of a two-parter, which was due to air on Monday night and tonight (February 9 and 10) and replace it with two different episodes from later in the run.
Fans were left confused by a change to the Silent Witness schedulingCredit: BBC
A teen was arrested following a machete attack in BirminghamCredit: Refer to source
Last week, the latest series of the long-running show kicked off after being relocated from London to .
The next two-part instalment in the series, The Enemy Within, was scheduled for this week before after a machete attack outside a shop.
One was left with life-changing injuries.
confirmed a 12-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a targeted attack at around 9pm.
The planned Silent Witness episode was eerily familiar to the real life event, and was set to tell the story of a fatal stabbing that was suspected to be racially motivated.
The investigation of the crime prompts a rise in tensions across the city.
and David Caves star as the lead investigators tasked with tracking down the killer.
Out of respect for the families involved in the real-life case, the BBC concluded it was the right thing to do to pull the planned showing.
Confused fans, unaware of the decision, took to social media in search of an explanation.
One wrote: “They’ve moved ep 5 to position ep 3 & 4, so what was the original 3 & 4? Anyone know?”
Silent Witness aired a later episode in the series insteadCredit: BBC
Teens were attacked on a street in BirminghamCredit: Refer to source
A BBC spokesperson told TV Guide: “Due to the attack in Birmingham over the weekend, this week’s episodes of Silent Witness will not transmit as planned and instead have been replaced with two episodes from later in the series.”
The BBC’s official Silent Witness account was quick to add that the episodes which were pulled from screens will still be available online.
The post stated: “This week’s new Silent Witness is now on @BBCiPlayer, in a change to the previously billed episodes. #SilentWitness”.
Silent Witness has been on air for more than 25 years and remains one of the BBC’s most-watched crime dramas, regularly drawing millions of viewers.
Silent Witness was set to air its latest episode The Enemy WithinCredit: PA
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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