Witness star silences role

Actress Amanda Burton has been lured away from the BBC by a lucrative deal with ITV

Tania Shakinovsky|Tara Conlan|Daily Mail

11 April 2012

The BBC drama series Silent Witness is facing the axe after Amanda Burton revealed yesterday she is quitting the central role after eight years. The actress once voted the sexiest on television has been lured by a lucrative deal with ITV to star in Lynda La Plante's latest police drama The Commander.

Insiders say 47-year-old Miss Burton has tired of playing forensic pathologist Sam Ryan and ITV made her 'an offer she couldn't resist' after The Commander was a hit with audiences during trials last year.

But 'clashes' with staff on the set of Silent Witness - who were subsequently dismissed - are also believed to have been a factor.

While Ulster-born Miss Burton says her departure will be 'emotional', some production staff will not be unhappy to see her go.

Two years ago, she fell out with one of the producers, Tom Sherry, who was later asked to leave in what was described as a 'personality clash'.

Months later, she was said to be furious when a fitting revealed her costumes were too tight. Costume designer Diane

Moseley was later dismissed. At the time, a BBC1 spokesman confirmed there had been a row on set but said Miss Moseley's contract was terminated due to 'ongoing creative differences'.

One BBC insider claimed: 'Amanda definitely knows her own mind.

'She likes to be treated well and she's been in the show since the beginning so wants her opinions on her character to be known.'

Her departure is a blow to the BBC and puts the future of Silent Witness in doubt. It is not unusual for a drama to founder after losing its central character.

In fact, Miss Burton shot to fame as Beth Kerruish in the ITV medical drama Peak Practice which never recovered after she and co- star Kevin Whately moved on and was subsequently axed.

Viewers will see her final Silent Witness scenes later this year as she appears in the first two episodes of the new series.

They are currently being filmed but the BBC is keeping under wraps how Sam will depart.

Producers hope that by raising the profile of two of Sam's colleagues - Dr Leo Dalton, played by William Gaminara, and Harry Cunningham, played by Tom Ward - Silent Witness might continue.

But the fact that the series has lost almost three million viewers since it pulled in 10.8million during its heyday in 1996 means its return is in doubt. In an interview with the Radio Times, Miss Burton, who is married with two daughters, said: 'I always know when it is time to move on and this is it.

' I am returning for the first two episodes in the new series so that loyal viewers can see Sam get a really good send-off.'

Remaining coy about the exact nature of her exit, Miss Burton said: 'It is not a tragic ending, but then again it is not exactly chocolate-box and happy either. It is different.'

Filming of The Commander - in which Miss Burton plays tough-talking Scotland Yard chief Clare Blake - starts in May.

The show has already been hit by controversy after Miss La Plante accused ITV of trying to foist soap stars on to its main cast. Former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins was in the frame to play the lead role.

'They want a user-friendly actress and by user-friendly they mean someone from Coronation Street or EastEnders,' said Miss La Plante.

'Many people in those shows give a good performance - but they are only good for those shows. I need a strong actress, someone who is realistic and believable to the viewers.'

Meanwhile, in another blow for BBC bosses, two of its rising stars have been poached by Channel Five.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, popular presenters of daytime lifestyle show Trading Up and the Million Pound Property Experiment, have been signed up in a £2million exclusive deal.

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Witness star silences role

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