Inside Silent Witness newcomer Maggie Steed's life off-screen from ...

A new series of Silent Witness is set to air on Monday night as BBC viewers tune in to see Dr Nikki Alexander and the Lyell squad return to solve a series of fresh eerie crimes. Although there's some new additions to the latest season as actresses Maggie Steed and Francesca Mills join as Harriet Maven and Kit Brooks.

Speaking about joining the beloved BBC show, Maggie had nothing but praise. She commented: "I was terribly flattered. I've always really enjoyed Silent Witness. I like the way that it's actually very serious, it doesn't mess about.

"Audiences respond to that, just look at how popular it is! And so, when I was offered it, I thought, 'Well, I can't say no to this!' So I jumped at the chance!"

Describing her character as a 'bright woman' who doesn't suffer fools gladly, viewers can see her role come to life in the first episode on January 6. Before making her Silent Witness debut, we've taken a look into the life of the 78-year-old from her health fears to soap exit.

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Health 'fear'

Two years ago, the actress opened up on facing ageism within the industry. Maggie shared one particular experience with her agent that left her feeling horrified, according to Express.

At the time, while starring in the Amazon Prime series Ten Percent, her agent politely told Maggie she needed to have her eyes checked. Recalling the moment, Maggie shared: "She said to me, ‘Darling, you’re going to have to have your eyes done.’

"I was so shocked that I nearly fell off my chair. I realised that they were right. My eyes had fallen so much that the cameramen were struggling to find them to put some light into them, so I had them done."

Soap exit

Maggie starred in the long-running BBC soap EastEnders as the character Joyce Murray back in 2017. At the time, Maggie made her debut alongside actor Christopher Timothy, who played her husband Ted Murray in Albert Square.

However, her stint in the beloved soap was short-lived as BBC viewers saw Maggie make an expected exit the following year.

In heartbreaking scenes, Joyce died in her sleep, leaving her husband distraught. Although her exit sparked the arrival of her daughter Judith (Emma Fielding)

A source at the time told The Sun: "Joyce’s time on the Square has been a brief one and, after her death, Ted will come out of his shell a bit and viewers will see more of him."

Personal life

Maggie was born in Plymouth and went on to study drama at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol before graduating in the late 1960s. Sadly, the actress confessed she didn't consider herself to be conventionally pretty enough to be an actress.

Instead, she became a secretary at a film company. Detailing her experience to Daily Mail, she said: "The principal told me: 'Darling, you won't work until you're over 30.' I was 18. And I believed him. It's the one piece of advice I give to students now. 'Never believe what you're told.'"

Admitting she was a "terrible" secretary, her boss took her to the side and confessed she couldn't stay at the job, despite being liked by the staff. Maggie added: "I told him all I wanted to do was act, and he said: 'Well I think you better do it.' I owe him a lot."

Since then, Maggie has gone on to star in a plethora of well-known films and TV shows. Her first noted role was as Ellen Smith in Coronation Street in 1970.

However, she's also appeared in the likes of Rivals, Father Brown, Paddington 2 and Transformers: The Last Knight

Silent Witness season 28 will begin airing on Monday, January 6 at 9pm on BBC One