Unforgotten: ITV drama renewed for fifth series after death of lead character

This article contains major spoilers for Unforgotten

Unforgotten has been renewed for a fifth series after a shocking series four finale that saw the death of one of the show’s lead characters.

*Spoilers follow – you have been warned*

Viewers of the cold case drama were left devastated last night (29 March) after Nicola Walker’s character Cassie Stuart was killed off.

Following the dramatic conclusion to the penultimate instalment, which Cassie involved in a car accident, DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) rushed to finish their investigation into the death of Matthew Walsh.

After solving the case, Sunny arrived at the hospital to find out that Cassie had succumbed to her injuries with her family being told she would never regain brain activity.

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Cassie’s father replayed the final voicemail she sent him over and over, in which she had promised she would “be better” in the future. Sunny could then be heard eulogising his friend, saying that he “loved” her.

ITV said in a statement: “ITV would like to thank Nicola Walker for playing the brilliant role of Cassie Stuart in four series of Unforgotten which has become one of the best loved and most critically acclaimed police dramas on TV.

“Nicola and writer Chris Lang decided that Cassie’s story would come to an end last night, but that Unforgotten would continue, in series five, with a new case, and a new ‘Partner in Crime’ for DI Sunny Khan.”

Earlier today, writer Chris Lang shared an update on the show, tweeting: “It has been an uncomplicated joy making 4 seasons of #Unforgotten with #NicolaWalker. We can be sad that we’ve lost someone we adored & who we will miss every day, but we also be grateful for the time we did have together’. More news on #Unforgotten to follow shortly.”