UNFORGOTTEN: ITV TO AIR NEW DOCUMENTARY INSPIRED BY HIT DRAMA

ITV drama Unforgotten, created and written by multi award-winning screenwriter Chris Lang and produced by Mainstreet Pictures, will return for its sixth series next year.

ITV have reportedly commissioned a two-part documentary series 'The Real Unforgotten' which will air alongside the brand new series of the ITV drama early next year.

A source told The Sun: "Often real-life events get featured in factual TV shows and then inspire dramas, but in this case it’s the other way around. ITV bosses saw this as a no-brainer and there are plenty of incredible cold cases to choose from that can feature."

In the next series of the ITV drama, Sinéad Keenan and Sanjeev Bhaskar reprise their roles as DCI Jess James and DI Sunil 'Sunny' Khan as their dynamic on-screen partnership returns to investigate emotionally charged cold cases from the past, unravelling secrets and unearthing buried truths along the way.

Joining Sinéad and Sanjeev for this series are Victoria Hamilton, MyAnna Buring, acting newcomers Max Fairley and Elham Elas and legendary British actors Jan Francis and Damien Maloney with returning performances from Andrew Lancel as Jess’s husband Steve and Kate Robbins as her mother Kate.

Jess and Sunny’s loyal and hard-working police team are also back including Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting, Carolina Main as DC Fran Lingley and Pippa Nixon as DC Kaz Willets. Georgia Mackenzie who plays Pathologist Dr Leanne Balcombe is also returning to the series.

When suspected human remains are discovered on Whitney Marsh, Jess and Sunny are called to the scene, ditching their respective plans for the evening much to Jess’s husband Steve’s chagrin.

With Dr Balcombe’s expert analysis of the human spine, it’s evident the remains are relatively recent and her guess is the body was put there already dismembered. With this knowledge Jess and Sunny begin to search the area believing other body parts may not be too far away.

In the meantime, we’re introduced to outspoken television commentator Melinda Ricci (MyAnna Buring) who is based in Ireland and renowned for her forthright views, Martin ‘Marty’ Baines (Max Fairley) an autistic man who lives with his mother, Dot, in Deal, Kent, Asif Syed (Elham Elas), an Afghan who speaks fluent English and is training for his UK citizenship test, and Juliet Cooper (Victoria Hamilton) who is a History Lecturer and Faculty Head at a central London University.  

Each of these characters live separate lives, yet they are intrinsically linked by their past and it’s for Jess, Sunny and their team to unravel these connections in search of the truth, and ultimately, who perpetrated the cold case murder.

Sinéad Keenan said: “I am absolutely delighted to be stepping into the world of Unforgotten once more. To be involved with the incredible team at Mainstreet on yet another set of stellar scripts from Chris Lang, with the brilliant Andy Wilson at the helm is a real treat. And to get to work again with Sanjeev, Carolina, Jordan, Pippa, and Georgia is an absolute joy. To call it work is a total misnomer. I can’t wait to get started!”

Sanjeev Bhaskar said: “I’m humbled and excited to be back as Sunny Khan, bearing the backpack for series 6 of Unforgotten.  Chris’s scripts, as ever, are intriguing, detailed and empathetic.  Andy’s direction and the skill of Sinead and the cast make this a warm and creative experience that so much more than a job. Once again I feel lucky to be a part of it.”

Series 1-5 of Unforgotten is available for streaming now on ITVX.