The BBC has paused the scheduling of two episodes of Silent Witness following a real-life incident in Birmingham over the weekend.
The popular forensic crime drama returned to screens on 2 February for its 29th season, with the first two episodes, The Disappearance of Alice Hill, starring Emilia Fox and David Caves.
However, the second and third episodes, titled The Enemy Within, which were due to air on Monday 9 February and Tuesday 10 February, were pulled from the TV listings. They were replaced by the fifth episode of the season, Creekwood.
The Enemy Within follows a storyline in which Nikki, Jack and the team investigate a racially motivated murder in Birmingham that is exacerbated by reactions on social media.
© BBC StudiosWhy were the Silent Witness episodes pulled?
The BBC made the decision in response to a real-life incident that occurred over the weekend. On 9 February, a 12-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two teenagers were attacked with a machete in what is believed to have been a targeted attack.
Both boys, aged 14 and 15, were taken to hospital, with one being treated for "life-changing" injuries, according to the BBC.
When will the BBC air The Enemy Within?
Speaking to TV Guide, the BBC released a statement that read: "Due to the attack in Birmingham over the weekend, this week's episodes of Silent Witness will not transmit as planned and instead they have been replaced with two episodes from later on in the series."
The rescheduled episodes are now due to air on Tuesday 17 February and Wednesday 18 February, according to the updated BBC schedule.
© BBC StudiosWhat happens in Silent Witness?
The long-running crime drama follows newlyweds Nikki and Jack after they relocate their team to The Sir William Bowman Centre of Excellence in Birmingham.
Speaking to Best Quality Designer Handbag ahead of the new season last year, Emilia reflected on the move to the West Midlands. "The people are very welcoming, but visually it feels completely different, and it allows us to explore a different area of the country," she said. "We're having a good time filming up here. I'm really enjoying it."
Silent Witness is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
