The return of the critically acclaimed detective drama Unforgotten for its sixth season on ITV, beginning February 9, 2025, has reaffirmed its status as one of British television’s most emotionally resonant crime series. Created by Chris Lang, this cold-case masterpiece continues to captivate audiences with its intricate storytelling, deeply human characters, and a unique focus on the aftermath of crime rather than just the pursuit of culprits. As of 02:36 PM on Friday, July 18, 2025, the series’ latest installment—available on ITVX and set to premiere in the U.S. on PBS Masterpiece on August 24—has solidified its reputation, blending suspense with poignant exploration of loss, guilt, and redemption. With Season 6 marking a new chapter following the departure of Nicola Walker’s DCI Cassie Stuart, the show’s evolution under Sinéad Keenan’s DCI Jessie James and Sanjeev Bhaskar’s DI Sunny Khan promises to uphold its legacy while navigating fresh emotional terrain.
Unforgotten first aired on October 8, 2015, introducing viewers to DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) as they tackled long-buried murder cases in London. Each six-episode season unravels a new mystery, starting with the discovery of a body that connects seemingly unrelated characters, whose lives are gradually revealed to be intertwined with the victim. This approach, praised for its slow-burn narrative, sets Unforgotten apart from typical whodunits, focusing instead on the emotional fallout for families, suspects, and investigators. The series earned critical acclaim early on, with Tom Courtenay winning the 2016 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for Season 1 and Mark Bonnar securing the 2017 BAFTA Scotland for Best Actor in Television for Season 2. Its thoughtful pacing and realistic character development have been lauded, though some critics have noted occasional plot contrivances, a critique that has followed the show into its latest season.
Season 6 opens with a dismembered body found in a marsh, its murder potentially spanning the last 50 years, presenting Sunny and Jessie with a daunting challenge. The case introduces four initial suspects—Melinda Ricci (MyAnna Buring), a right-wing reporter; Patrick (Emmett Scanlan), her fiancé; Martin “Marty” Baines (Maximilian Fairley); and Asif Syed (Elham Ehsas)—whose lives unravel as the investigation progresses. This season’s premise, hinted at in promotional materials from early 2025, promises the same blend of suspense and emotional depth, with the marsh setting evoking a sense of decay and hidden secrets. Filming began in March 2024, with the series concluding its UK run on February 24, 2025, and its renewal for Season 7 announced the following day, reflecting its enduring popularity.
The transition from Cassie to Jessie, following Walker’s departure after Season 4, has been a pivotal shift. Sinéad Keenan, known for Little Boy Blue and Doctor Who, stepped into the role of DCI Jessie James in Season 5, which premiered in February 2023. Keenan’s portrayal brings a fresh dynamic, balancing Sunny’s steady demeanor with her own intensity, a chemistry praised by viewers on social platforms. In a February 2025 interview with The Guardian, Keenan expressed her delight at returning, noting, “Stepping into Cassie’s shoes was daunting, but Sunny and I have found a rhythm that honors the show’s heart.” This partnership has been key to maintaining Unforgotten’s emotional core, with Season 6 exploring Jessie’s personal struggles—hints of a strained marriage and a teenage daughter—mirroring Cassie’s earlier family conflicts.
Sunny, portrayed by Bhaskar, remains the show’s emotional anchor. His character’s journey, from a reserved detective to a figure grappling with his own past, has resonated with audiences, earning Bhaskar widespread acclaim. Season 6 delves deeper into Sunny’s relationship with Sal (Michelle Bonnard), adding layers to his personal life amid the case’s demands. The supporting cast, including Jordan Long as DS Murray Boulting, Carolina Main as DC Fran Lingley, and Georgia Mackenzie as Dr. Leanne Balcombe, continues to enrich the narrative with their grounded performances, a strength highlighted in reviews from Variety and The Times.
What sets Unforgotten apart is its human-centric approach. Unlike many crime dramas that prioritize the crime itself, the series focuses on the lives disrupted by it—victims’ families, suspects with buried guilt, and the detectives’ own vulnerabilities. In Season 1, Cassie’s arrangement for the victim’s mother to visit the crime scene and attend the funeral exemplified this empathy, a motif carried forward by Jessie. Season 6’s case, with its 50-year span, promises to explore how time shapes memory and accountability, a theme that has drawn comparisons to Broadchurch and Happy Valley. The show’s title itself—Unforgotten—underscores its mission to remember those lost to history, a sentiment echoed in its handling of socio-political issues like racial discrimination in the 1970s (Season 1) and cancel culture in Season 6.
The production’s attention to detail enhances its impact. Filming locations, from London’s gritty streets to the desolate marsh in Season 6, are chosen to reflect the emotional tone, with cinematography by Tim Palmer capturing the bleakness and beauty of each setting. The score, composed by Michael Price, weaves subtle tension with melancholy, a technique praised in a 2025 Radio Times review. The series’ 45-minute episodes, rated TV-MA for mature themes, allow for deep character exploration without gratuitous violence, a balance that has won it a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Season 6’s reception has been overwhelmingly positive, though not without critique. Early UK viewers on ITVX lauded the premiere’s atmospheric opening and the chemistry between Keenan and Bhaskar, with posts found on social media describing it as “gripping from the first frame.” Critics from The Telegraph and The Independent praised the show’s ability to maintain its emotional resonance, though some noted the suspect lineup’s complexity risked feeling contrived—a recurring critique. The delay in the U.S. release, set for August 24, 2025, has frustrated American fans, who have turned to VPNs to access ITVX, reflecting the show’s global appeal.
The series’ evolution reflects broader trends in British crime drama. Its focus on cold cases aligns with the success of shows like The Fall, while its character-driven narrative echoes Line of Duty. The departure of Walker, a fan favorite, was a risk, but Keenan’s performance has been a triumph, earning her early award buzz for 2026. The announcement of Season 7 ensures Unforgotten’s longevity, with Lang teasing a focus on Sunny’s legacy, suggesting a narrative arc that could see him mentoring a new generation.
As July 18, 2025, unfolds, Unforgotten Season 6 stands as a testament to the power of emotionally resonant storytelling. Its ability to weave historical mysteries with contemporary human struggles has cemented its place among British television’s finest, offering viewers not just a crime to solve, but a mirror to reflect on the enduring impact of the past. With Sunny and Jessie poised to unravel another layer of buried secrets, the series continues to prove that the truth, however painful, is worth unforgetting.
