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Entertainment • Television

Unforgotten

Unforgotten is a British crime drama television series that premiered on ITV in 2015.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Unforgotten is a British crime drama television series that premiered on ITV in 2015. Created and written by Chris Lang, it follows London detectives investigating cold cases involving disappearances and murders. The series is known for its serialised storytelling and ensemble cast.

Premise

Unforgotten follows detectives investigating cold cases, usually prompted by the discovery of human remains or other long-buried evidence. The cases often reveal the impact of past crimes on victims’ families, suspects, and investigators.

Production

The series was created and written by Chris Lang and directed by Andy Wilson. It premiered on ITV on 8 October 2015 and has continued with multiple series over time.

Cast and characters

The principal investigators include DCI Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker, and DI Sunny Khan, played by Sanjeev Bhaskar. In later series, Sinéad Keenan appears as DCI Jessie James.

Reception and awards

The series has been described as an award-winning crime drama and has received notable recognition including a BAFTA Award and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.

Key facts

  • The series centres on London detectives who reopen long-unsolved cases involving murder and disappearance.
  • Nicola Walker played DCI Cassie Stuart in series 1–4, and Sanjeev Bhaskar plays DI Sunny Khan across the series.
  • Sinéad Keenan joined as DCI Jessie James in series 5–6.
  • Each series has six episodes.
  • The programme has won a BAFTA Award and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.
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Canadian context

Unforgotten has been available to Canadian viewers through broadcasters and streaming services that carry British television drama, including PBS-linked distribution in North America; specific Canadian broadcast history is not clearly established in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Unforgotten about?
It is about London detectives who investigate cold cases, especially long-unsolved murders and disappearances.
Who created Unforgotten?
The series was created and written by Chris Lang.
When did Unforgotten first air?
It first aired on ITV on 8 October 2015.
Who are the main detectives in the series?
The main detectives include DCI Cassie Stuart, DI Sunny Khan, and later DCI Jessie James.
How many episodes are in each series?
Each series consists of six episodes.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgotten
    Supports: Created by Chris Lang; ITV premiere date; cast; series format; series structure; genre and premise.
  2. PBS Masterpiece — https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/unforgotten/
    Supports: Series premise; cast; awards; official presentation as an award-winning cold case drama.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4192812/
    Supports: Country of origin; language; awards count; series identity and premise.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/unforgotten
    Supports: ITV network; premiere date; genre; director; synopsis; main cast.
  5. PBS — https://www.pbs.org/show/unforgotten/
    Supports: North American availability on PBS platforms.