Dalgliesh's Bertie Carvel on character's future: 'He could give it up'
The detective returns to Channel 5 next week.
Bertie Carvel has opened up on the mindset of his titular detective in Dalgliesh season 2, teasing that the character is considering stepping back from his duties.
The series, which returns to Channel 5 next week, unravels cases across 1970s England, based on the mystery novels by late author PD James – with season 2 adapting Death of an Expert Witness, A Certain Justice and The Murder Room.
Ahead of the premiere, Carvel spoke to RadioTimes.com and other press, explaining that a key focus of the episodes is on Dalgliesh potentially passing the torch to a new generation of detectives.
"There's another big journey in the series," he began, "which is because, on the one hand, he's maybe stepping back. There's a potential ending where he gives it all up."
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Carvel continued: "So part of what's going on as well is that he's bringing others on... he sees potential in Kate Miski and he's got this new guy on the team.
More like this
"And so there's also an element of stepping back and watching how other people do things, and trying to bring them on and bring them forward and give away his power. So that's going on."
But just because Dalgliesh is questioning his future, don't expect him to pursue answers any less aggressively, with Carvel saying that he can't "help the bloodhound in him" or getting "righteous about pursuit of the truth".
Read more:
- Dalgliesh star expands on Kate Miskin's "feelings" for the detective
- Inside No. 9 co-creator on series future: 'The door is ajar, not closed'
It's not just a big career choice that is causing Dalgliesh to reflect, as the nature of his latest cases will affect him profoundly as an "emotionally porous" individual.
Carvel added: "He's kind of going back into his past, to the county of his birth. And in doing that he's also travelling back in time himself and thinking about where he came from and these bigger questions. But that's happening very quietly.
"And what should he find there? A dead person, obviously... His magic trick as a policeman is to be quite boundaried, but inside he's incredibly emotionally porous, and so he kind of walks into these situations and finds things that can't help but feel massively personal."
Dalgliesh season 2 launches Thursday 27th April at 9pm on Channel 5, followed by episode 2 on Friday 28th April at 9pm.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
