BBC puts Silent Witness out to tender

The contract is for two series of 10 episodes each with the option to extend the contract for a further two years.  

The fee available for each series will be £10.8m, and delivery of the first episodes would be due by the end of 2028. 

It is offered on a work-for-hire basis, and the BBC will continue to broadcast the programme and will retain all rights. 

The tender is open to producers who have or intend to establish a substantive base in the West Midlands. 

A plan to develop writers, directors, and other off-screen roles on the title has to be submitted as part of the proposal and will form a core part of the award criteria.  

Silent Witness is currently produced in-house by BBC Studios. Set in Birmingham, the series follows a team of forensic experts and lead investigators as they uncover the truth behind complex and often challenging crimes. 

It is one of the biggest-budget shows that the BBC has put out for tender, following Holby City in 2016, which went out to tender with a budget of £50m over three years. BBC Studios won the contract the following year. 

Under the BBC Charter, the BBC has to open up hours of programming that previously formed part of its in-house production guarantee.  

The deadline for initial submissions is 25 September 2026 at 2pm.  

Rhodri Talfan Davies, Interim Director General for the BBC, recently revealed that the organisation is planning to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs. Discover more here.