After years of gripping storytelling and solving long-buried crimes, ITV’s Unforgotten might be heading into a new era—and not everyone’s thrilled about the direction it’s taking.
Longtime writer Chris Lang has hinted he may step back after the next season, leaving fans wondering what’s next for the beloved crime drama.
Chris Lang Says He’s Ready to Move On
Chris Lang, the acclaimed writer behind Unforgotten, recently opened up about his future with the show.
Speaking to the Royal Television Society, Lang revealed, “I’ll probably hand on the baton after this series.
I’ve written 42 episodes and don’t want to repeat myself.”
While he’s not cutting ties completely, it sounds like he’s preparing to step away from the writing desk.
Lang explained that the show’s framework has always given him space to reflect on what’s going on in the world.
He described Unforgotten as a “Trojan horse show”—entertaining on the surface, but packed with deeper commentary on British society.
But now, after six seasons, he seems ready to explore new creative ground.
Viewers Say the Show Has Changed—and Not for the Better
Despite its strong track record, Unforgotten’s most recent season stirred up some backlash.
While the show remains a streaming success—its Season 6 premiere drew a massive 7.4 million viewers in just two weeks—some fans were far from impressed with the storylines.
Critics online slammed the latest episodes, accusing the show of becoming too “woke” and filled with “box-ticking” characters and narratives.
“You’ve ruined #Unforgotten—it’s complete woke nonsense!” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Others echoed similar frustrations, saying the show had lost the grounded, complex charm it once had.
Fans Are Still Torn Between Criticism and Loyalty
Interestingly, even some of the critical voices admitted they couldn’t stop watching.
One viewer posted, “Up to episode 4 of #Unforgotten… Some great acting. Is it too woke? Probably—but I’m still enjoying it.”
Another fan offered a completely different take, calling the series “brilliant” and saying they were nearly in tears by the end.
The sixth season followed detectives Jessie James (played by Sinéad Keenan) and Sunny Khan (played by Sanjeev Bhaskar) as they investigated the unsolved murder of Gerry Cooper.
But characters like Mel, Asif, and Marty—whose stories raised suspicions—didn’t quite land for everyone.
ITV Confirms Season 7 Is Coming—But Will It Be the Last?
Despite the polarized reactions, ITV has already confirmed a seventh season is on the way.
Still, with Chris Lang possibly stepping back and fans divided, there’s growing uncertainty about the long-term direction of the series.
Whether you’re loving Unforgotten for its social commentary or missing its earlier grit, one thing’s clear—the show has sparked conversations.
And as Lang prepares to pass the torch, fans are left hoping that the heart of the series remains intact.
