Nigel McCrery, the creative force behind the hit BBC dramas Silent Witness and New Tricks, has passed away at 71 after a "shock" terminal illness. The TV legend, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness last October, had expressed his sadness sorrow over not being able to watch his grandchildren grow up. His agent confirmed his death on Monday, stating: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the news of screenwriter, author and producer Nigel McCrery's passing. "As the creative mind behind such hits as the much loved long running BBC drama series Silent Witness and New Tricks, Nigel captivated and inspired audiences for years with his work." "His numerous contributions to the arts will always be remembered. Nigel had an incredible career and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time." Before his television career, McCrery served as a police officer with the murder squad in Nottingham. He joined the BBC through a graduate scheme in 1990 and later transitioned to the drama department, reports the Mirror. His first show was Backup, which focused on a police operational support unit and aired from 1995 to 1997. Following that, he created Silent Witness, a popular series that delves into the world of forensic pathologists and scientists. It all started in 1996 with Silent Witness launching and celebrating its 28th blockbuster series earlier this year. McCrery wasn't done there, though – he also went on to create New Tricks, which first aired on TV in 2005. That show, centred on a trio of retired police officers dragged back to crack some cold cases, boasted telly legends like Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong, and James Bolam and raked in the viewers before getting the chop in 2015 after an impressive 12 series run. Not one to rest on his laurels, McCrery, along with Chris Chibnall (the brains behind Broadchurch), went on to create 1950s-set medical drama series Born And Bred in 2002. In a candid chat in November last year, McCrery opened up about his terminal diagnosis, saying it blindsided him: "I mean people deal with their deaths in different ways, and I think it's all very, very individual to each of us," he dished out to BBC Radio 4. "But I think for a little while you do go into shock - or I did, and I was in a bit of a state." Three weeks on from the bombshell news, McCrery confessed, "I used to cry a lot, I used to sob a lot." Nikki Bedi, the host, responded, "You're saying used to like it's in the past, but it's only three weeks," to which McCrery replied" "I don't know how long it'll take me to get used to that. It's not that I'm scared of dying, I'm actually not. I have wonderful granddaughters, and it's missing them growing up. It's the things I'll be missing by not being around that I'll find the hardest to cope with." The TV show creator admitted that the diagnosis constantly lingered in his thoughts, and even something as simple as music could trigger an emotional response. "I don't like crying in public, so I tend to get myself out of the way until it's out of my system," he shared. "And I'm hoping that as time goes on and the realisation becomes more real that I'll calm down completely." McCrery confessed that what really worried him was breaking down in front of his granddaughters. Although he didn't reveal the specifics of his illness, he emphasised the importance of family, saying: "You push, and you try and get this made and that made, but the bottom line is - the best bet is to be with your family." In addition to his TV work, McCrery also authored non-fiction books on sports, World War I, and World War II, including The Footballers Who Fought And Died In The Great War, Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War, and Season in Hell: British Footballers Killed In The Second World War. One of his books, The Vanished Battalion, was adapted into the 1999 war drama All The King's Men, starring David Jason and Maggie Smith. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.