Dalgliesh star Bertie Carvel reveals family heartbreak that he channelled to play lead role in hit drama

BERTIE Carvel has revealed a family heartbreak that he channelled for crime drama Dalgliesh.

The 47-year-old returns as the fan-favourite detective for the show’s third series this month.

However, off screen Bertie faced his own family tragedy – which he admits he used to play the part of Dalgliesh.

The star explained: “Just before we shot Dalgliesh, my mother died and I definitely derived something therapeutic from accessing that.”

He continued to RadioTimes: “I’ve often thought whether or not that was a selfish thing to do. Did it serve the thing or was it using “It” for my own ends?

“If you’re making a story about somebody in pain and you’re processing your pain as part of that, and if it can be helpful for the audience to witness that authentic pain and recognise it, and their own, then it’s not self-indulgent, it’s therapeutic.”

Dalgliesh sees Bertie investigate complex murder cases with the third instalment seeing multiple deaths land on the copper’s desk to solve.

Channel 5 recently released a first look at the new episodes as Dalgliesh is tasked with caging a serial killer after two staff at the same nuclear plant turn up dead.

In the action-packed clip, he can be seen struggling to get the suspects to come clean.

As a body is carted out of a house, Dalgliesh can be heard saying: “This is now a murder investigation.

“I do expect honesty when I speak to you. The fact that you’ve withheld information has been noted.”

The show is also broadcast to a US audience and airs on streaming platform Acorn TV.

Dalgliesh returns on Thursday, December 5th on Channel 5 and My5.