Criminal Record (TV series)
Two detectives clash over an old murder case.
Criminal Record is a British crime thriller television series created by Paul Rutman. The show stars Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo. The first series, made up of eight episodes, debuted on Apple TV+ on 10 January 2024. A second series followed on 22 April 2026. The story centres on two detectives—one a long-serving veteran, the other at the start of her career—who find themselves at odds over a cold murder case after an anonymous tip-off pulls them in.
- creator
- Paul Rutman
- first_series_premiere
- 10 January 2024
- second_series_premiere
- 22 April 2026
- network
- Apple TV+
- genre
- Crime thriller
- main_cast
- Peter Capaldi, Cush Jumbo
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Crime thriller
- Creator
- Paul Rutman
- Music
- Neil Davidge / Michael Asante
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 2
- Num Episodes
- 16
- Executive Producer
- Paul Rutman / Elaine Collins / Peter Capaldi / Cush Jumbo / Chris Sussman
- Cinematography
- Laurent Barès / Jan Jonaeus / Ben Wheeler
- Location
- London
- Runtime
- 37–54 minutes
- Company
- Tod Productions / STV Studios
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series was announced in June 2022 when Apple TV+ ordered it, with production beginning in London. Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo were cast as leads, with Paul Rutman as writer and Jim Loach and Shaun James Grant as directors. Additional casting was revealed in August 2022. The first series of eight episodes premiered on 10 January 2024, with the first two episodes released together. In February 2024, a second series was reported to be in the works, and an official renewal was announced on 22 August. Filming for the second series took place at Wharf Studios in London for soundstage work, along with central London locations, lasting 22 weeks and concluding on 20 June 2025. On 28 January 2026, Dustin Demri-Burns, Luke Pasqualino, Luther Ford, Lyndsey Marshal, and Peter Sullivan were announced as new cast members for the second series. The second series premiered on 22 April 2026, with weekly releases until the finale on 10 June 2026.
Reader's Guide
Criminal Record stands as a notable entry in the British crime thriller genre, distinguished by its pairing of veteran actor Peter Capaldi with Cush Jumbo. The series received generally favorable reviews, with the first series holding a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 critic reviews, and a Metacritic score of 74 out of 20 critics. The critics' consensus highlighted the 'formidable pairing' as a scintillating focal point. The second series also achieved a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though based on only 10 reviews. The series' premise—centering on a clash between a seasoned detective and a younger one over an old murder case—provides a classic framework for exploring themes of experience, justice, and institutional tension. Its production timeline, from announcement in 2022 through two series released in 2024 and 2026, reflects Apple TV+'s investment in British television drama. The series' legacy may rest on its strong performances and its ability to sustain critical approval across both series.
Did You Know?
- The first series holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 critic reviews.
- The second series premiered on 22 April 2026 and concluded on 10 June 2026.
- Filming for the second series took 22 weeks and concluded on 20 June 2025.
- The series was created by Paul Rutman and stars Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo.
More in British thriller television series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record