DI Ray's new star Witney White - From challenging roles to life beyond acting

DI Ray is set to return to ITV screens for a second series, introducing new talent including Witney White as DC Charlene Ellis.

With a rich theatre background, Witney has shone in productions such as Wuthering Heights, Sylvia, and A Monster Calls.

Taking to Instagram, Witney reflected on her most demanding role to date in Room at Theatre Royal Stratford East, writing: "We say goodbye to Room. What a wonderful journey, it has been the most challenging and the most rewarding thing I've ever done."

She continued: "I poured my heart and soul into this show and I will miss it dearly."

Adding a heartfelt thanks, she said: "Thank you to every single person involved, together I believe we created something very special. 'Room' will forever be in my heart."

Beyond acting, the Father Brown and Holby City actress shares her love for travel and animal welfare on social media.

Her latest holiday post from 2022 captures memories of a trip to Mallorca, where she shared: "Spent a week working with gorgeous people during the summer. Chicken cuddles, delicious food, learnt to dive, made art, sun, sea and swimming. Perfect, perfect, perfect!"

Witney's Instagram also features snapshots from her travels to exotic locations like Marrakech, Cuba, Jamaica, and Florida.

Her on-screen journey began in 2013 with her role as Tulisa Brown in Doctors.

She appeared in minor parts in 'Cleaning Up' and 'Holby City', and then featured as Scarlett Streatham on 'Father Brown'.

Landing her debut steady part on television in 'DI Ray', she expressed her enthusiasm by sharing the update with her Instagram followers.

The forthcoming episode teases high stakes as "the clock is ticking on tracing an armed fugitive after a third murder occurs, and DI Ray must face her past to find the next piece of the puzzle".

DI Ray continues tonight on ITV