UNFORGOTTEN returns for its fifth season, but with one main character missing.
DCI Cassie Stuart (played by Nicola Walker) won’t be making an appearance in the new season following the shocking ending of season four.
Nicola Walker has quit playing DCI Cassie Stuart on Unforgotten
How did DCI Cassie Stuart die on Unforgotten?
WARNING: Contains spoilers from Unforgotten season four episode six.
Fans were in tears when the beloved character Cassie died on Unforgotten.
Viewers were in left in bits after a doctor revealed that Cassie had suffered extensive brain damage and wouldn’t recover from her injuries.
It came after she was involved in a major accident at the end of episode five.
It was revealed she was hit by a car thief who had left the scene, and that “distracted” Cassie had just pulled out in front of the driver.
Her family, including dad Martin who she had been trying to contact as she looked at her phone just before the crash, all gathered at the hospital.
At first, it appeared that the prognosis was good after an operation on her brain before a doctor revealed that it was worse than first thought.
The series ended with her partner DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) visiting her grave just before the credits rolled.
Why did Nicola Walker leave Unforgotten?
Nicola left the show after feeling Cassie’s story had “come to an end”.
Speaking about her departure, ITV said: “We 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 5, with a new case, and a new ‘Partner in Crime’ for DI Sunny Khan.”
Although Nicola’s character was a fan favourite, it seems her departure from the series was planned for a long time.
In an interview with TV Insider, she said: “We talked a lot after season 3 about where it was going to go, and it was a joint decision. I think the clues were there in season 3.
“The title of the show is Unforgotten and I think there’s a great deal of narrative beauty to this woman. She’s not going to be forgotten.
“I felt like she was quietly very unusual on television because she was a real person.”
How can I watch Unforgotten?
Unforgotten season five will kick off on Monday, February 27 at 9 pm on ITV1.
It will also be available via ITV’s streaming service ITVX.
