The main character in the original series Samantha 'Sam' Ryan was based on Professor Helen Whitwell, a forensic pathologist based in Sheffield, whom Nigel McCrery had known while serving as a police officer.
First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel McCrery, a former murder squad detective based in Nottingham.
The first three series were set in Cambridge. This changed to London from the start of the fourth series, following Sam (Amanda Burton) as she took up an academic position.
The theme music featured in the series is entitled Silencium and is performed by John Harle. The arrangement, for chamber orchestra and soprano saxophone solo, was first performed as part of the Canterbury Festival on 22 October 2011. The vocal section is performed by Sarah Leonard.
Dummies are used for the autopsy scenes because the directors want it to be as realistic as possible but naked bodies cannot be shown on the BBC, according to forensic pathology adviser Stuart Hamilton.
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