Apple TV has finally set a release date for the return of Criminal Record, its acclaimed but often overlooked British crime thriller starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo. The first season may have fallen under the radar for many, as it didn’t generate as much mainstream buzz as other major streaming hits, despite being an instant hit with critics. Those that found the “hidden gem” would be forgiven for temporarily forgetting about it, as two years have passed since its original debut. However, it is time for both parties to get excited, as a premiere date has now been locked in for the long-awaited second season of the detective drama. Criminal Record Season 2 will make its global debut on Apple TV with its first episode on April 22, followed by new episodes weekly through June 10 (when the eighth and final episode will drop). The show’s sophomore outing will reunite Capaldi as Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty and Jumbo as Detective Sergeant June Lenker, the clashing police officers who will likely butt heads again as the first season ended on a cliffhanger that saw Lenker confront Hegarty about manipulating evidence on a murder investigation. The two of them will reluctantly team up again on an entirely new case in Season 2, as per the synopsis below:
“When a young man is stabbed to death at a political rally, rival police officers June Lenker (Jumbo) and Daniel Hegarty (Capaldi) are forced into an uneasy alliance. But what starts as a hunt for a murderer escalates into an undercover operation to foil a far-right bomb plot in the heart of London.”
Apple TV dropped a dossier of first-look photos for Criminal Record Season 2 to give audiences a sneak peek of what’s to come. The images (shared below) feature several familiar faces and a few newcomers, as Dustin Demri-Burns, Luca Pasqualino, Luther Ford, Lyndsey Marsha, and Peter Sullivan join the cast for the next chapter of the gripping drama alongside the returning ensemble that includes Shaun Dooley as DS Kim Cardwell, Stephen Campbell Moore as Leo Hanratty, and Charlie Creed-Miles as DS Tony Gilfoyle.
‘Criminal Record’ Is Not to Be Missed

The first season of Criminal Record debuted in January 2024 and was instantly met with critical acclaim, resulting in a “Certified Fresh” score of 90% from critics on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It joined the ranks alongside a number of other elite shows that serve as near-perfect examples of what small-screen storytelling can achieve. The show received high praise for the “mesmerizing” performances from Capaldi and Jumbo, its “clever” script, and “cutting edge” production, with many comparing the story’s high-stakes intensity to the BBC police drama Line of Duty – which is set to return for a seventh season.

Now that Criminal Record has proven itself as a worthy addition to watch lists, the Paul Rutman-created drama might be given a bigger marketing push by Apple heading into its second season. And if Hegarty and Lenker were to follow in the footsteps of their criminal-busting counterparts, aka Ted Hastings and the AC-12 crew, then they could have a very bright future ahead of them, with many more cases to crack.

Release Date

January 10, 2024

Showrunner

Paul Rutman

Directors

Jim Loach, Shaun James Grant

Writers

Paul Rutman