BBC viewers are gearing up once more to join Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and the Lyell team as they delve into a fresh series of peculiar and chilling crimes. Amidst the turmoil, love has been in the air for Nikki and Jack Hodgson (David Caves).
The season’s finale left fans ecstatic with an unexpected twist of romance. Cosied up on the couch, Jack presented Nikki with an evidence bag containing a mysterious item.
Nikki’s surprise turned to joy as she retrieved a box from the bag, revealing a diamond ring and realising Jack’s intention to propose. Her affirmative answer led to a tender kiss, wrapping up the episode on a high note.
With wedding bells on the horizon this season, Emilia Fox hinted at how the engagement might affect Nikki and Jack’s relationship.
In response to questions about their current status, she said: “The relationship between Jack and Nikki has been running over such a long period of time, and the expectation has been so great about what would or wouldn’t happen, that we wanted that to be rewarded in the way that the proposal took place.”
Emilia reflected on the evolution of their bond, noting their journey from friendship to love, while navigating the complexities of being colleagues in a romantic relationship, reports the Mirror.
Looking forward to the new season, Emilia teased: “Now they’re in this moment where they’re going to make a commitment to each other. They don’t have many other people in their family life.
“Jack’s just lost his dad, he still has his niece and his wayward brother, but Nikki has got no one. So they are everything to each other. There’s this ever-present thought: “If we make this change, will we still have what we had before? Will it change it, making it formal?’
“These are two people at a certain time in their lives. They’re not getting married when they’re in their 20s. What do marriage and that kind of commitment mean? These are the things which I really felt passionate about portraying. So a lot of thought went into it. “
The upcoming season, set to unfold over 10 episodes, begins on Monday January 6 with an episode titled Exodus 20:17, introducing a new character to the team.
The synopsis reveals: “Part one of two. The body of an elderly woman is found in a cave, with her fingerprints burnt off and a posy of foxgloves at her side that she did not pick herself. The case is complicated further when they discover that she died three months before her body was discovered. Jack is apprehensive about the arrival of new boss Professor Harriet Maven (Maggie Steed).”
Francesca Mills also joins the cast this season as Kit Brooks. Speaking about her role, the newcomer said: “She’s bright-eyed, very eager, and very clever. She has got a brain that I think works faster than her.
“Things are coming out of her mouth, live, as they are processing. What I’ve learned about crime analysts is they must have eyes on everything.”