Crime (also known as Irvine Welsh's Crime) is a Scottish crime drama television series, an adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel of the same name. The 6-episode first series was co-written by Welsh and Dean Cavanagh and broadcast in 2021 on BritBox, later moved in the UK to be available on ITVX. It stars Dougray Scott as the detective Ray Lennox. Scott won an International Emmy Award and a BAFTA in November 2022 for his performance. A second series began filming in Scotland in 2022 and premiered on 21 September 2023 on ITVX.[1]

Crime
GenreCrime thriller
Based onCrime
by Irvine Welsh
Screenplay by
Directed by
  • David Blair
  • James Strong
  • Trygve Allister Diesen
  • Anthony Neilson
Starring
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Pamela Hansson
  • Dean Cavanagh
  • Douglas Scott
  • James Strong
  • Richard Tulk-Hart
  • Irvine Welsh
  • Tony Wood
Producers
  • Helen Ostler
  • David Blair
Cinematography
  • David Liddell
  • Will Pugh
  • Ashley Rowe
Editors
  • Melanie Viner-Cueno
  • Barry Moen
  • Nikki McChristie
  • Ulrike Münche
Production companies
  • Buccaneer
  • Off Grid Film and TV
  • Blazing Griffin
Original release
Network
Release18 November 2021 (2021-11-18) (BritBox)

Synopsis

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DI Ray Lennox (Scott) and DS Drummond (Vanderham) investigate a schoolgirl's abduction.[2]

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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  • Emma Hartley-Miller as Angela Hamil
  • Sarah McCardie as DCI Gillian Glover
  • Alison McKenzie as Estelle
  • Brian Bovell as George Marsden
  • Kim Chapman as Helena
  • Sorcha Groundsell as Carly
  • Paige Green as Britney Hamil
  • Ian Hanmore as Tommy Loughran
  • Moyo Akandé as Maria Pearson
  • Bhav Joshi as Gary Franklin
  • Brian James Leys as Michael Garrett

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
1618 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
2621 September 2023 (2023-09-21)

Series 1 (2021)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Episode 1"James StrongIrvine Welsh & Dean Cavanagh18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
22"Episode 2"James StrongIrvine Welsh & Dean Cavanagh18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
33"Episode 3"James StrongIrvine Welsh & Dean Cavanagh18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
44"Episode 4"David BlairIrvine Welsh & Dean Cavanagh18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
55"Episode 5"David BlairIrvine Welsh18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
66"Episode 6"David BlairIrvine Welsh18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)

Series 2 (2023)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
71"Episode 1"UnknownUnknown21 September 2023 (2023-09-21)[1]

Production

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First series

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On 23 July 2020, BritBox announced that Irvine Welsh would be adapting Crime as a six-part miniseries for streaming service with Irvine Welsh adapting his own book alongside Dean Cavanagh.[3] The series is set in Edinburgh and filmed there and Glasgow.[4]

Second series

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In October 2022, a second six-part series started filming in Scotland with Welsh and Cavanagh again scripting. Directors for the second series include Trygve Allister Diesen and Anthony Neilson.[5] Production is by Buccaneer and Off Grid Film and TV.[6] Production crews were reported in Glasgow's West End, with filming occurring on Horselethill Road and Rosslyn Terrace.[7] Filming continued in Glasgow into November 2022.[8]

Scott was quoted as saying "Season 2 takes us even deeper into Lennox's past, and helps us understand his persona even more. I couldn't be happier."[9] Among those returning for series two are Ken Stott, Joanna Vanderham, John Simm and Derek Riddell.[10]

Broadcast

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The first series premiered on BritBox on 18 November 2021.[11] The second series will be shown in the UK on ITVX with the first series becoming available via ITVX in 2023.[12]

Reception

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Critical response

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Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph described the performance of Scott as "lifting" the police procedural "out of the ordinary" by delivering "every line with a burning intensity" that still "manages at the same time to convey the character's emotional fragility, and the toll that his job is taking".[13] Lucy Mangan in The Guardian was less effusive, but said that Welsh "pushed the limits of what we normally see from the troubled detective at the centre of such shows".[14] Carol Midgely in The Times said "I thought it was terrific, give or take the odd daft scene" and "few writers could write about such horror and still make it funny".[15]

Accolades

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Scott was nominated at the International Emmy Awards for his performance.[16] Scott won the International Emmy Award for Best Actor in November 2022.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bundel, Ani (12 September 2023). "Irvine Welsh's 'Crime' Returns to ITV for Season 2". Telly Visions. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ^ "TV: Joanna Vanderham and Dougray Scott on Irvine Welsh's Crime". Herald Scotland. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. ^ "BritBox announces a set of debut originals". Royal Television Society. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ^ Fotheringham, Ann (11 May 2023). "Joanna Vanderham on filming Irvine Welsh's Crime in Glasgow". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  5. ^ Bennett, Harry (10 October 2022). "Dougray Scott back on the case with new cast in series two of Irvine Welsh's Crime". rts.org. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ^ Flockart, Gary (14 October 2022). "Ken Stott and John Simm join season two of Edinburgh cop series". Edinburgh News.
  7. ^ Carmichael, Morgan (20 October 2022). "Hollywood star Dougray Scott spotted filming in Glasgow for Irvine Welsh drama Crime". Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ^ Hunter, Catherine (3 November 2022). "Filming of Irvine Welsh's Crime show to close Glasgow streets - see the list of affected areas". The National. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. ^ Ward, Sarah (14 October 2022). "New details revealed for TV adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel Crime after Glasgow filming". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  10. ^ Seddon, Aimee (10 July 2023). "John Simm to return for second series of Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh's Crime on ITVX". lep.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  11. ^ "From Trainspotting to the TV series of Crime: the Irvine Welsh interview". The Shortlisted. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  12. ^ Harvey, Chris (10 May 2023). "Dougray Scott on 'ferocious' Sturgeon, the SNP and what he really thinks about independence". The Daily Telegraph.
  13. ^ Singh, Anita (10 May 2023). "Crime, review: yes, it's yet another crime drama – but Irvine Welsh's new series is a different beast". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ^ Mangan, Lucy (18 November 2021). "Crime review – Irvine Welsh's first TV drama is a dreich and plodding affair". The Guardian.
  15. ^ Midgley, Carol (9 May 2023). "Crime review — Irvine Welsh finds humour amid the horror". The Times. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  16. ^ Goldbart, Max (29 September 2022). "International Emmys: Narcos: Mexico Leads The Pack Alongside Sex Education, Lupin". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. ^ Perez, Lexy (21 November 2022). "International Emmys: 'Sex Education,' Dougray Scott and Lou de Laage Among Winners". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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