I felt sick watching Silent Witness after realising they’d ripped off my own stories, fumes retired dentist suing BBC
A RETIRED dentist is suing the BBC, claiming it ripped off her ideas to use on Silent Witness.
The BBC series first aired in 1996 and follows a team of forensic pathologists as they solve grisly cases.
However, the drama now finds itself at the centre of a court case after former Harley Street dentist Dr Donna Molavi alleges Silent Witness bosses stole her idea for a double episode.
The episodes aired in 2018 and were titled Betrayal, and MailOnline reports that Dr Molavi told London’s High Court she felt “sick” after watching them.
Dr Molavi told Judge Mr Justice Marcus Smith she had developed a script between 2016 and 2018 titled London Dark Web.
It followed a forensic pathologist investigating a covered-up killing and she pitched it to ITV, with draft screenplays penned by Dr Molavi featuring in court documents.
ITV commissioned the story, but it didn’t end up making it to the screen, with Dr Molavi’s barrister Martin Howe telling the court the storyline was “distinctive and unusual”.
In her witness statement, Dr Molavi said: “I immediately recognised plot elements and features that derived from my work.”
She added the similarities were “beyond coincidence” but both Silent Witness’ season 22 writer Virginia Gilbert and the BBC have denied the accusations.
Andrew Norris, the barrister representing the BBC, said the case shouldn’t go to trial, insisting there was no ‘possible route of access’ between the programme makers and Dr Molavi.
He added of Dr Molavi’s accusation: “It’s a guess, she doesn’t know.”
The judge reserved his ruling on the application for a summary judgement until a later date.
The Sun Online has contacted the BBC for comment.