As the first episode of Silent Witness' 28th series aired on Monday night, viewers were quick to voice a common observation.

The episode saw Dr. Nikki Alexander (portrayed by Emilia Fox) and Jack Hodgson (David Caves) welcome two fresh faces to their ranks - Maggie Steed and Francesca Mills.

In this latest series, Maggie Steed steps into the shoes of Harriet Maven, the new Head of The Lyell Centre, while Francesca Mills brings to life Kit Brooks, a Crime Analyst who collaborates with Jack.

The blurb for the opening episode reveals: "Part one of two. The body of an elderly woman is found in a cave, her fingerprints burnt off and a bunch of foxgloves by her side that she didn't pick herself.

"The mystery deepens when it emerges that she passed away three months prior to her body being found. Jack is uneasy about the arrival of their new boss, Professor Harriet Maven (Maggie Steed)," reports .

However, no sooner had the new series kicked off than fans took to social media to air their views, with many noticing a couple of familiar faces missing from the enduring drama.

Viewers were quick to query the whereabouts of Velvy (Alastair Michael) and Gabriel (Aki Omoshaybi).

One fan posted on X: "No Velvey or Gabriel? Not a good start."

One viewer tweeted, "Subtle way of telling us Velvy's b****red off then #SilentWitness," while another chimed in with, "So that explains why Gabriel and Velvy have left. I had thought Gabriel would be to do with the university and I'm so pleased for Velvy. Jack has been a good mentor and inspiration to him."

Another fan lamented the loss of a character's charm: "And just as I was warming to Velvey's infectious smile, they've binned him off. #silentwitness."

Curiosity is brewing among the audience, with one person asking, "Will Velvy and Gabriel be returning to this series? #SilentWitness,".

The absence of beloved characters has not gone unnoticed, as one disappointed fan posted, "No Gabriel, Velvy or Cara is disappointing #silentwitness." (sic).

Anticipation builds for the next instalment, with the synopsis teasing viewers: "As Benjamin continues his search for Gloria, Nikki makes a disturbing discovery that brings them closer to the truth.

"The plot thickens with the introduction of a fresh face at the Lyell, while Lauren and Gary find themselves entangled in an unexpected scam."

Silent Witness returns on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One.