Nigel McCrery, the creative mind behind BBC’s Silent Witness and New Tricks, has revealed he was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness.
In an emotional interview on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live, the 71-year-old shared his reaction to the news, which he received just three weeks ago.
“It comes as quite a shock,” he said, describing the initial period as “a bit of a state” as he processed the diagnosis.
Before transitioning to television, McCrery served as a police officer with the Nottinghamshire murder squad, a background he channeled into his crime dramas.
After joining the BBC in 1990, he began creating shows based on his policing experience, including Backup, Silent Witness, and New Tricks, which went on to become some of the BBC’s longest-running series.
Additionally, he collaborated with Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall to create the 1950s-themed drama Born and Bred.
Reflecting on his terminal diagnosis, McCrery expressed sadness over the moments he will miss with his granddaughters, saying, “It’s missing them growing up… that I’ll find the hardest to cope with.”
He shared that while he isn’t afraid of dying, he struggles with the thought of crying in front of loved ones, preferring privacy when processing his emotions.
He described the diagnosis as “in the back of my mind all the time” and hopes that with time, he’ll be able to accept it more calmly.
While McCrery didn’t disclose the specifics of his illness, he emphasized the importance of family, adding, “The best bet is to be with your family.”
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