Unforgotten star reveals surprise real-life family link to storyline – as hit ITV crime drama returns

UNFORGOTTEN prima Sinead Keenan has revealed her astonishment real-life household nexus to the show's storyline.

Sinead, 47, who plays DCI James successful the ITV transgression drama, made the revelation during an quality connected The One Show this week.

The histrion discussed the idiosyncratic challenges her quality faced successful the erstwhile bid arsenic she plugged its instrumentality for bid six.

Viewers volition callback the turmoil Jessie endured aft discovering her hubby had been unfaithful with idiosyncratic adjacent to home.

In a astonishing twist, Sinead revealed that her on-screen sister, Debbie - the pistillate progressive successful the matter - is really played by her real-life sister, Grainne Keenan.

Host Roman Kemp was near stunned, saying: "This is specified a caput boggle infinitesimal but, successful the past series, your quality Jess finds retired that her hubby is having an matter with her sister but your sister successful the amusement is played by your existent sister successful existent life.

"Safe to say, not real-life husband? That would beryllium horrendous! But however amusive is it to play this retired with her?"

Sinead replied: "Oh it's great, it's great. Thankfully that has ne'er happened successful existent beingness truthful it was lovely.

"We've been successful the aforesaid shows done our careers but our characters ne'er met, crossed paths, truthful yea that was existent bully fun."

Written by Chris Lang, critically acclaimed Unforgotten is coming backmost to the tiny screen successful conscionable a substance of days.

The amusement stars Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan arsenic DI Sunny Khan and DCI Jessie James respectively, arsenic they lick acold cases concerning execution and disappearance.

Fans volition beryllium thrilled to cognize Unforgotten volition beryllium backmost connected screens from Sunday, February 9.

Meanwhile, the duo are called successful to analyse erstwhile suspected quality remains are uncovered connected Whitney Marsh.

Analysis from Dr. Balcombe reveals the remains to beryllium comparatively caller and constituent to a grim circumstance.

It would suggest the assemblage had been placed determination having already been dismembered.

Armed with this knowledge, Jess and Sunny ramp up their search, convinced different assemblage parts whitethorn not beryllium acold away.

An eclectic formed of characters besides populate the communicative - including Melinda Ricci (MyAnna Buring), an outspoken Ireland-based television commentator.

Marty Baines (Max Fairley) is an autistic antheral surviving with his parent Dot successful Deal, Kent portion Asif Syed (Elham Elas), is an Afghan grooming for his UK citizenship test.

Elsewhere, Juliet Cooper (Victoria Hamilton), is simply a history lecturer and module caput astatine a London university.

Although these characters unrecorded seemingly abstracted lives, they stock intricate connections done their pasts.

Jess, Sunny, and their dedicated squad are tasked with uncovering these hidden links to exposure the information down the acold lawsuit murder.

Other returning stars see Andrew Lancel - who formerly played Coronation Street villain Frank Foster - arsenic Jess' hubby Steve.

Meanwhile, histrion and vocalist Kate Robbins returns to play Jess' mum Kate.

Additional newcomers to the formed see established actors Jan Francis and Damien Maloney.