Emilia Fox shares her love for Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and favourite food spots, just in time for Silent Witness's return.

We know for a fact that Birmingham is a fantastic city, but it is always lovely to hear from a widely acclaimed actress that Birmingham is a touch above the rest.

On a tour of the brand-new Silent Witness set in Digbeth, BirminghamWorld heard from its star actress Emilia Fox who plays pathologist, Dr Nikki Alexander, as the show gears up for its 29th season - and its first set in Birmingham.

Emilia Fox plays Dr Nikki Alexander in the long-running BBC show Silent Witness | BBC Studios

placeholder image — Emilia Fox plays Dr Nikki Alexander in the long-running BBC show Silent Witness | BBC Studios

For the cast and crew of Silent Witness, they have traded the bright lights of London for the even bigger lights of Birmingham.

The BBC show returns to our screens next week (2 February) and there’s a brand-new twist as the Lyell Centre is now located in Digbeth.

The show’s lead actress was keen to share her thoughts on the city after spending months filming in the Birmingham area in 2025.

Her favourite Birmingham area

Emilia Fox pointed out that, the Jewellery Quarter was her favourite part of the city so far, and has developed a real ‘love’ for the area. She noticed that the buildings in the area have a real ‘New York’ feel, admiring the architecture and had enjoyed filming in St. Paul’s Square.

Located in the historic Jewellery Quarter, St. Paul’s Square is a picturesque Georgian square surrounded by beautiful architecture and charming cobblestone streets. It’s a great spot for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing afternoon at one of the many cafes. | Flickr

She told BirminghamWorld, “For me, it’s the Jewellery Quarter, I’ve absolutely loved filming in the Jewellery Quarter, and then there’s that lovely church that we filmed in the Square.

“The coolest buildings, like a really New York feel with the industrial buildings and the history of Birmingham, so yeah I’ve loved it.

“I mean, there’s a lot more to discover, but so far that’s been my favourite area.”

Her character, Dr. Nikki Alexander now resides in Edgbaston, and Emilia was asked if she preferred the affluent Birmingham suburb to the London area, Acton. Though, Emelia was keen to share that she was not ready to rank one above the other.

“Well I love Acton, and I have very strong attachments to Acton…so I wouldn’t put one above the other.”

Her favourite Birmingham restaurants

One standout food spot for Emilia Fox was is the iconic balti house, Shababs.

Emilia Fox enjoyed “Going out to the Balti Triangle for a really good curry, like amazing Balti...have you been to Shababs?,” she asked.

When Emilia learnt that it had been impacted by a summer fire, she was taken aback as she had plans to return as she enjoyed the restaurant’s meals.

In June, Shababs which is an iconic Balti house in the city was affected by a fire that ripped through the building in June 2025.

“We were booked in to go for a second trip to Shababs and then literally got a message with a picture of what had happened.”

Staff prepare ingredients used in balti dishes in the kitchen of 'Shababs' restaurant in the 'Balti Triangle' area of Birmingham, central England on June 7, 2023. The balti dish was first created in Birmingham in 1975. The authentic balti is cooked using vegetable oil, not ghee, in a specially designed bowl made of pressed carbon steel. The balti is cooked in the dish it is served in and the diner is expected to eat out of the same dish too. The Balti Triangle, located south of Birmingham city centre, contains some of the oldest balti restaurants although currently only four authentic balti restaurants remain trading in the area. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Another local establishment, that Emilia Fox recommends to those visiting the Jewellery Quarter is Trentina, she praised the establishment for its ‘delicious’ pasta dishes, exclaiming, “homemade pastas, unbelievable!”

All in all, it was interesting to learn about Emilia Fox's favourite restaurants in Birmingham that she enjoyed whilst filming the latest series of Silent Witness.