The hit London crime thriller is back. Apple TV has confirmed that Criminal Record Season 2 will premiere on April 22, 2026. The series starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo will release new episodes every Wednesday, concluding with its season finale on June 10. This announcement was made alongside the release of several first-look images from the new season.
The show’s return follows a critically acclaimed first season that became one of Apple TV’s standout hits in the UK. For the second season, the show expands from a tense cold case into a story with citywide stakes, pitting detectives against a rising political threat in London.
Criminal Record Season 2 Story Details and First Look Images
The new season picks up with a volatile case that forces the show’s rival detectives into an uneasy partnership. The official plot summary states:
“When a young man is stabbed to death at a political rally, rival police officers June Lenker and Daniel Hegarty 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.”
Cush Jumbo’s character, Detective Sergeant June Lenker, is the senior officer on the scene when the political rally turns deadly. Consumed with guilt over the young man’s death, she is desperate to find the killer. Her best chance for answers lies with Peter Capaldi’s character, the seasoned Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty, who now operates within the shadowy world of police intelligence. To secure his help, Lenker must agree to a dangerous bargain.
Apple TV released five first-look images to preview the season. The photos capture the tense dynamic between the leads, showing them seated side-by-side in an interrogation room, with Lenker looking straight ahead and Hegarty watching her intently. Another image shows new cast member Dustin Demri-Burns standing before multiple microphones, appearing to give a press conference.
Criminal Record Season 2 Cast and New Characters
The core duo of the series returns. Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo reprise their lead roles as DCI Daniel Hegarty and DS June Lenker. Both actors also continue their duties as executive producers for the series.
They are joined by several new cast members for this season’s story. The newcomers include:
- Dustin Demri-Burns, known for his role in Slow Horses.
- Luca Pasqualino from The Musketeers and Skins.
- Luther Ford, who appeared in The Crown.
- Lyndsey Marshal of Years and Years.
- Peter Sullivan from The Borgias.
Several actors from the first season are also returning. The recurring ensemble includes Shaun Dooley, Stephen Campbell Moore, and Charlie Creed-Miles.
Criminal Record Season 2 Production and Creative Team
The creative team behind the first season reassembles for the new episodes. The series is created and written by Paul Rutman. He serves as an executive producer alongside Elaine Collins, Peter Capaldi, and Cush Jumbo.
Directing duties for the eight-episode season are handled by Ben A. Williams and Joelle Mae David. The series is produced for Apple TV by Tod Productions and STV Studios.
Filming for the season took place in London. The production used both soundstage facilities at The Wharf Studios and various on-location spots across central London. The shoot lasted for 22 weeks and wrapped on June 20, 2025.
How to Watch Criminal Record Season 2
Criminal Record Season 2 will be available exclusively on Apple TV. The first of eight episodes premieres globally on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Following the premiere, new episodes will be released weekly every Wednesday. The season finale is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
For viewers who need to catch up or revisit the story, the complete first season of Criminal Record is available to stream on Apple TV now. The first season consisted of eight episodes that aired from January to February 2024.
Apple TV is available through the Apple TV app, which is accessible on over 1 billion screens worldwide. This includes iPhones, iPads, Apple TV 4K, Mac computers, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, and Sony, as well as streaming devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV. A subscription to Apple TV costs $12.99 per month and includes a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
Also Read:
Criminal Record Season 1 Recap and Critical Reception
The second season builds on the complicated relationship established in the first. Season 1 followed DS June Lenker as she reopened a historic murder case after an anonymous phone call, bringing her into direct conflict with DCI Daniel Hegarty, the officer who secured the original conviction.
The season finale revealed that the convicted man, Errol Mathis, was innocent. The real killer was Stefan Ash, an informant used by Hegarty. Lenker discovered that a key piece of witness testimony from a child was a misquotation from a cartoon, not a threat from the accused. The season ended with a confrontational phone call where Lenker accused Hegarty of poisoning the case, to which he responded by hanging up.
The first season was a critical success. It holds a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 50 critic reviews. The critics’ consensus on the site calls it “a mystery that only gets more intriguing as it unfolds”. The series also received a weighted score of 74 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.
