NCIS season 20 is billed to be the first run without Mark Harmon appearing in the leading role of Gibbs.++Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) left CBS viewers in tears back at the start of NCIS season 19 when the series stalwart told colleague and son-figure McGee (Sean Murray) he was ready for a new life away from fighting c****e. Now supposedly living a quieter life in Alaska as NCIS heads towards its 20th season, Alden Parker (Gary Cole) has taken on the role of the show's leading man, with Harmon now in the background – but showrunner Steven D Binder has confirmed the new series will shed light on Gibbs' new life.

To recap, Gibbs' departure from the forefront of NCIS came in season 19, episode four after a bout of crime-solving and fly-fishing with McGee in Alaska.

After refusing to board the plane home with his colleague, Gibbs told McGee: "I'm not going back, Tim."Despite McGee branding the decision "crazy", Gibbs told him the "sense of peace" he felt was something he hadn't experienced since his wife d**d, before he planted a hug on his tearful colleague and told him: "I love you, Tim."