What the Apple TV series is about
Criminal Record is a British crime thriller built around two London detectives whose very different approaches to policing bring them into conflict. Peter Capaldi plays veteran detective Daniel Hegarty, while Cush Jumbo stars as June Lenker. What begins with an anonymous call questioning an old murder conviction develops into a tense story about evidence, institutional power, policing and whether the original case was handled correctly.
Series overview at a glance
Paul Rutman
The British writer created the series and serves as a writer and executive producer.
Peter Capaldi
Capaldi plays veteran London detective Daniel Hegarty.
Cush Jumbo
Jumbo plays Detective Sergeant June Lenker.
Apple TV
Both released seasons are available through Apple’s streaming service where offered.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Criminal Record |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Primary setting | Contemporary London |
| Genre | Crime thriller / police drama |
| Creator | Paul Rutman |
| Lead actors | Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo |
| Original platform | Apple TV |
| First season premiere | January 10, 2024 |
| Second season premiere | April 22, 2026 |
| Seasons released | 2 |
| Total episodes through Season 2 | 16 |
What happens in the series?
The central relationship begins when Detective Sergeant June Lenker becomes interested in information suggesting that an old murder conviction may not be as secure as it appears. The earlier investigation leads her toward Daniel Hegarty, an experienced and well-connected detective whose reputation and past work become central to the mystery.
That setup creates two investigations at once. There is the obvious question of what really happened in the earlier murder case, but there is also a more personal struggle between two detectives who see policing, evidence and responsibility differently.
Main cast and characters
Daniel Hegarty
A highly experienced detective with influence, history and a strong instinct for controlling an investigation. His involvement in the older murder case puts him directly at odds with Lenker.
June Lenker
A detective sergeant who begins questioning the accepted version of an old case and is willing to push against institutional resistance when the evidence points elsewhere.
Doris Mathis
A key figure connected with the historical case and its continuing consequences.
Tony Gilfoyle
A detective whose connections to Hegarty and the investigation become important to the story.
Kim Cardwell
Another police figure operating within the wider investigative environment.
Changing ensemble
The second season expands the cast with additional characters while keeping Lenker and Hegarty at the center of the series.
Season 1 establishes the Hegarty–Lenker conflict
The first season begins with an anonymous emergency call that raises questions about a historical murder conviction. June Lenker begins looking more closely at the earlier case and increasingly finds herself confronting Daniel Hegarty.
Their disagreement is not simply about one piece of evidence. Hegarty represents experience, institutional authority and a version of events that has already been accepted. Lenker represents a willingness to reopen uncomfortable questions.
As she continues investigating, the stakes expand beyond professional disagreement. The original conviction affected a real family, and uncovering what happened requires examining how decisions were made inside the police investigation itself.
Season 2 premiered in April 2026
Apple released the second season beginning April 22, 2026. Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo returned as Daniel Hegarty and June Lenker.
Rather than simply repeating the first season’s murder-case mystery, the second season expands the working relationship between the two detectives and places them inside a new investigation. Apple describes the series as continuing to explore policing in a world where different people can aggressively contest what is true.
The Season 2 finale, titled “Nobody Dies,” was released June 10, 2026.
How many episodes are there?
The first two seasons contain 16 episodes in total: eight in Season 1 and eight in Season 2.
8 episodes
The first two episodes launched together on January 10, 2024, followed by additional episodes.
8 episodes
Season 2 began April 22, 2026 and concluded with Episode 8 on June 10, 2026.
Individual episodes generally run for roughly three-quarters of an hour to just under an hour, depending on the episode.
Where can you watch it?
Criminal Record is an Apple original series and is available through Apple TV in supported regions.
The exact subscription price, trial availability and regional catalog can change, so use Apple’s current show page rather than relying on an old streaming-price article.
Is the series based on a true story?
Apple and the production company present Criminal Record as a fictional drama rather than as a dramatization of one identified real murder investigation.
Its themes are intentionally realistic: disputed convictions, institutional failure, policing, race, evidence and the tension between protecting an established investigation and correcting a possible injustice.
Why the name “Criminal Record” fits the story
The title works on more than one level. A criminal record can be the official history attached to a person’s arrest, prosecution or conviction—but the series is also interested in the people who created that record and the evidence used to justify it.
That distinction matters because the central mystery begins with the possibility that an old conviction may have produced an official record that does not tell the full truth about what happened.
In that sense, the show asks a broader question: once the justice system has recorded an event as settled, how difficult is it to reopen the story behind the record?
Why the show appeals to crime-drama viewers
Old convictions
The drama examines what happens when new information challenges a case that authorities previously treated as resolved.
Institutional loyalty
Characters must decide whether loyalty to colleagues and institutions should outweigh uncomfortable evidence.
Competing versions of truth
Evidence matters, but so do the people who control how evidence is interpreted and presented.
Police power
The show repeatedly looks at how rank, reputation and institutional knowledge shape investigations.
Race and policing
Race, public trust and institutional failure form part of the wider social context of the story.
Personal consequences
The series pays attention to how criminal investigations affect defendants, families, detectives and communities long after a case appears closed.
Frequently asked questions about the series
1. What is Criminal Record about?
It is a London-set crime thriller following detectives June Lenker and Daniel Hegarty. An anonymous call raises questions about an old murder conviction and brings the two detectives into conflict over the original investigation.
2. Where can I watch Criminal Record?
The series is an Apple original and streams on Apple TV in supported regions.
3. Who stars in Criminal Record?
Peter Capaldi stars as Daniel Hegarty and Cush Jumbo plays June Lenker. The wider cast includes Cathy Tyson, Charlie Creed-Miles, Shaun Dooley and other recurring performers.
4. How many seasons are there?
Two seasons have been released. Season 1 arrived in 2024 and Season 2 premiered on April 22, 2026.
5. How many episodes are in Criminal Record?
The first two seasons contain 16 episodes in total, with eight episodes in each season.
6. When did Season 2 come out?
Season 2 premiered on Apple TV on April 22, 2026. The eighth and final episode was released June 10, 2026.
7. Is Criminal Record based on a true story?
It is presented as a fictional crime thriller rather than as a direct dramatization of one specific real criminal case.
8. Is Criminal Record a British series?
Yes. It is a British crime thriller set primarily in contemporary London.
9. Who created Criminal Record?
The series was created by British television writer Paul Rutman.
10. Is this show about searching public criminal records?
No. Despite its title, Criminal Record is a fictional television drama. It is not a documentary or a guide for searching government criminal-history databases.