The air crackled with anticipation on the evening of August 20, 2025, as ITV’s Unforgotten returned with a vengeance, its sixth season premiering to an astonishing overnight surge that catapulted it to the top of the UK’s most-watched shows. By 11:05 AM +07 on Thursday, August 21, 2025, the crime drama—starring the magnetic Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar—had captured the nation, racking up millions of views on ITVX within hours. This isn’t just another whodunit; it’s a haunting, twist-laden journey into the dark underbelly of human secrets, where every revelation tightens the grip of suspense until the unthinkable finale leaves viewers stunned. With Walker’s beloved DCI Cassie Stuart now a memory and Bhaskar’s DI Sunny Khan paired with the steely DCI Jessica James (Sinéad Keenan), Unforgotten has redefined the cold-case genre, proving its power to paralyze audiences with its relentless unraveling of lies and betrayal.

A Sudden Storm of Popularity

The overnight success was nothing short of a phenomenon. Premiering at 9 PM on ITV1, the first episode drew 7.2 million viewers, a figure that soared to 9.5 million with catch-up streaming on ITVX by midnight. Social media erupted, with #Unforgotten trending at number one on X, as fans marveled at the show’s return. “I couldn’t blink—every second was a gut punch,” one viewer posted, while another declared, “This is the thriller we’ve been starving for!” The buzz wasn’t just hype; it reflected a hunger for storytelling that blends emotional depth with nail-biting mystery, a niche Unforgotten has mastered since its debut in 2015. The sudden leap to #1, overtaking juggernauts like Love Island and The Chase, underscores a cultural craving for narratives that linger long after the credits roll.

The plot kicks off with a chilling discovery: human remains unearthed on Whitney Marsh, their dismembered state hinting at a brutal end. Dr. Leanne Balcombe’s analysis reveals a recent victim, forcing Sunny and Jess to abandon their evening plans and dive into a case that promises to unearth buried truths. The premiere’s pacing—deliberate yet electrifying—hooked viewers instantly, setting the stage for a season that promises to outdo its predecessors. With all six episodes dropped on ITVX, binge-watchers have already taken to forums, raving about the twists that keep them glued to their screens.

A Cast That Commands the Screen

At the heart of Unforgotten’s triumph are its actors, led by the incomparable Nicola Walker, whose DCI Cassie Stuart defined the series for four seasons until her shocking car crash exit in 2021. Though absent, her legacy looms large, with fans still mourning her warmth and tenacity. Stepping into the void is Sinéad Keenan as DCI Jessica James, a no-nonsense leader whose personal turmoil—her husband’s affair with her sister—adds a raw edge to her performance. Keenan’s chemistry with Sanjeev Bhaskar’s DI Sunny Khan, a role Bhaskar has honed into a portrait of quiet strength, is immediate and compelling. Their dynamic, free of the usual romantic tension, offers a refreshing take on partnership, grounded in mutual respect and shared grief over Cassie’s loss.

The ensemble shines with returning talents like Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting and Carolina Main as DS Fran Lingley, whose investigative grit anchors the team. Newcomers Jan Francis and Damien Molony bring fresh intrigue, their characters’ lives weaving into the mystery with tantalizing ambiguity. Andrew Lancel reprises Jess’s estranged husband Steve, while Kate Robbins as her mother Kate adds familial tension that mirrors the case’s emotional stakes. This cast, a blend of veterans and rising stars, transforms Unforgotten into a masterclass of acting, each performance a thread in the season’s intricate tapestry.

A Tale of Secrets and Betrayal

The season’s central case is a masterstroke of suspense. The Whitney Marsh remains—belonging to a man named Gerry Cooper—unravel a web of connections that span decades. The premiere introduces four seemingly unrelated individuals, each with a past that begins to crack under Sunny and Jess’s scrutiny. One is a retired teacher hiding a dark secret, another a wealthy businessman with a crumbling marriage, a third a reclusive artist, and the fourth a nurse grappling with guilt. As the team digs deeper, flashbacks reveal a night of violence tied to a failed business venture, where betrayal turned deadly.

The narrative’s strength lies in its slow burn, peeling back layers of deceit with each episode. Sunny’s personal life—his budding romance with pathologist Leanne Balcombe—offers a counterpoint to the darkness, while Jess’s struggle with her sister’s betrayal mirrors the case’s themes. The twist in Episode 3, where the nurse confesses to witnessing the murder but not reporting it, sent shockwaves through viewers, with one X post exclaiming, “My jaw hit the floor!” The suspense builds relentlessly, each clue a step closer to a reveal that promises to shatter expectations.

A Haunting Atmosphere

Unforgotten’s visual and emotional tone sets it apart. Filmed across London’s moody marshes and the stark interiors of abandoned homes, the season captures a haunting ambiance that mirrors the characters’ inner turmoil. The score, with its haunting strings and sudden silences, amplifies the tension, while the direction—by returning helmer Andy Wilson—frames every scene with cinematic precision. The marsh discovery, shot with fog rolling over the water and the team’s flashlights cutting through the gloom, is a visual that lingers, evoking the eerie solitude of the crime.

The show’s emotional depth adds to its grip. Sunny’s grief over Cassie, expressed in quiet moments of reflection, resonates with viewers who’ve followed his journey since 2015. Jess’s anger and vulnerability, revealed through tense phone calls with her sister, humanize her authority. Together, they navigate a case that forces them to confront their own limits, a theme that has defined Unforgotten’s six-season run. Fans on Reddit have praised this balance, calling it “a thriller with a soul.”

The Overnight Phenomenon

The sudden popularity isn’t accidental. Unforgotten’s release strategy—dumping all episodes on ITVX—catered to the binge-watching trend, a move that paid off as viewership spiked overnight. By 6 AM on August 21, ITVX reported a 40% increase in traffic, with Unforgotten dominating search trends. The timing, coinciding with a lull in summer programming, gave it a clear runway to capture attention. Critics, too, have jumped on board, with early reviews hailing it as “ITV’s answer to Broadchurch,” praising its intricate plotting and stellar cast.

The backlash to Cassie’s exit in 2021 had left fans wary, but Keenan’s debut has won them over. “I missed Nicola, but Sinéad’s Jess is a revelation,” one viewer tweeted, a sentiment echoed across platforms. The show’s ability to evolve while honoring its roots—evident in callbacks to past cases like Jimmy Sullivan’s—has fueled its resurgence. ITV’s decision to air a marathon rerun of Series 1-4 last week primed audiences, setting the stage for this explosive return.

The Shocking, Unthinkable Reveal

Without spoiling the finale, the season crescendos with a reveal that has left binge-watchers speechless. The killer’s identity, tied to a betrayal that spans generations, ties together the four suspects in a way no one saw coming. The final scene, shot in a rain-soaked London alley, delivers a confrontation that’s as emotional as it is shocking, leaving Sunny and Jess to grapple with the cost of justice. Fans on X have called it “paralyzing,” with one posting, “I sat frozen for ten minutes after that ending!”

The aftermath promises to reshape the team. Sunny’s relationship with Leanne faces a test, while Jess’s personal reckoning could alter her leadership. With ITV already teasing a potential Series 7, the stakes are higher than ever. The overnight success—coupled with a 92% audience score on early review sites—suggests Unforgotten isn’t just back; it’s redefining the murder mystery genre.

A Thriller for the Ages

Unforgotten’s sixth season is more than a TV event—it’s a cultural moment. Its sudden storm to #1 reflects a public hunger for stories that blend suspense with humanity, delivered by a cast that breathes life into every frame. As the marsh’s secrets fade into memory, the echoes of betrayal and redemption linger, leaving viewers paralyzed with awe. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, this season is a journey into the heart of darkness—and a reminder that some mysteries are worth unraveling, no matter the cost.