Peter Capaldi: ‘There are a lot of big problems – there’s no point burying our head in the sand’

Peter Capaldi has spoken out about his new drama Criminal Record and how it tackles big issues around the policing of London head on.

The new show, which begins this week on Apple TV+, stars Capaldi as a senior detective whose integrity is called into question when a young officer, played by Cush Jumbo, starts looking into an old murder case.

In a new interview with The Big Issue, Capaldi explained that it was necessary to tackle police failings and institutional racism and misogyny in the series, which he also co-produced with his wife, Elaine Collins and co-star Jumbo.

“It has to be done,” Capaldi said.

“Clearly there are a lot of big problems and there’s no point in us burying our head in the sand and not addressing them, or not reflecting upon them.”

He said Jumbo had also been instrumental in ensuring these issues were tackled.

“Responding to some of Cush’s input, we wanted to put in some everyday racism and everyday misogyny,” Capaldi continued. “Not big dramatic moments, but the slow daily cuts of unpleasantness that people of colour and women feel and go through.”

The actor also drew attention to the mismatch between the government’s words and actions when it comes to supporting and funding the police.

“It’s an incredibly difficult job being in the police and trying to deal with all the terrible things they have to deal with,” he said. “But, also, there’s not enough funding. For all its talk, the government isn’t behind them. They don’t put enough money in, they don’t recruit enough good people, they don’t pay them enough and they don’t look after them enough.”

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Capaldi, who begins work on series three of hit drama The Devil’s Hour for Amazon Prime next month (season two airs soon), also admitted he has enjoyed returning to the Doctor Who fandom.

“I have to say it’s a relief not to be in the middle of that storm,” he said.

“The role has a lot of other demands beyond just acting in it. It’s a kind of circus that you have to do for days on end. But it’s lovely to see Russell T Davies at it again.”

Criminal Record is on Apple TV+ from 10 January. Read Peter Capaldi’s full interview in The Big Issue magazine, on sale from January 15.

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