An Interview with Tom Douglas

This interview contains spoilers

In a recent interview, Tom Douglas talks about his life, his background, his family, and his future – from where it all began in North Manchester

Tom's childhood home

It’s been a few years since we last sat down with the man behind the badge, and to say life has changed for Tom Douglas would be a massive understatement. We caught up with him just as he was packing up his office at Greater Manchester Police headquarters, transitioning from a career solving murders to a brand-new mission.

Interviewer: Tom, or should I say former DCI Douglas? A lot has been happening with you recently, but before we talk about that, let’s look back. What’s the family background that produced one of Manchester’s finest murder detectives?

Tom: I grew up in North Manchester, where we lived in a three-bedroomed terraced house. My parents didn’t have much money, but they never made us feel like we were missing out. We always had enough, and that was all that mattered back then. I went through the local comprehensive school and then on to Manchester University – the standard path, or so I thought at the time.

Interviewer: You mentioned "us"—tell us about your brother, Jack. He was always a bit of a legend in the tech world, wasn't he?

Tom: Jack was something else entirely. He was a few years older than me and a total genius. While I was the "studious one," Jack was in his bedroom making computers sing. He had his own computer company in his late teens, and his business just went from strength to strength. I was always a bit in awe of his brain, to be honest. For a long time, the world – including me – believed he’d been killed in a freak speedboat accident in the Adriatic. It was a devastating loss that stayed with me for years.

Interviewer: But that wasn't the end of the story. His "resurrection" as the shadowy informant Blake must have changed everything for you.

Tom: It turned my world upside down. Discovering he was alive – and then working alongside him in the shadows – has been a rollercoaster ride. He’s still a technological wizard and a law unto himself, but we’ve found a mutual respect. He’s the "Black Hat" to my "White Hat". He taught me that morality isn't always black and white, which, to be honest, played a huge part in my decision to leave the force.

Interviewer: Yes, let’s talk about your shock decision to resign from the force. What on earth prompted such a move just when you were at the top of your game?

Tom: [Laughs] It wasn’t an easy decision, but the recent events in Venice were a massive wake-up call. For years, I’ve been the "White Hat"—the guy who follows every rule to the letter. But standing in a Venetian palazzo, realising that the law couldn’t save my family but my "Black Hat" brother could, changed something in me. I realised I’m tired of arriving only after the damage is done. I want to help prevent crime before it happens, using some of the – let's say innovative – technology my brother is developing.

Interviewer: Speaking of your brother, Jack – or Pete, as he’s often known now – his "resurrection" was a huge turning point for you. How is your relationship these days?

Tom: It’s better than it’s been in twenty years. For a long time, I carried the weight of his "death" and the secrets he kept to protect us. Discovering he was alive – and then working alongside him in the shadows – has been a rollercoaster. He’s still a technological wizard and a bit of a law unto himself, but we’ve found a mutual respect. He’s taught me that morality isn't always black and white, and I've taught him... well, I’m still working on teaching him to stay out of the police’s hair!.

Interviewer: Your home life has seen some big changes too. You’ve moved from that "soulless" London apartment to a beautiful Edwardian home in Manchester, and you’re a father again!

Tom: Moving back to the North-west to be near my daughter, Lucy, was a non-negotiable for me – I’d already moved to London to be close to her, but when my ex-wife, Kate, decided to come back north, I followed. Home is where I finally get to shut the rest of the world out, and my partner, Louisa, helps me keep things in perspective when a case turns ugly. These days, our little boy Harry is the one calling the shots; he’s a chunky little chap who’s currently convinced that sleep is a luxury I don’t need. When I’m not chasing him around, I’m usually found in the kitchen – it’s the one place where my "famous gut" is actually focused on the spice levels of a curry rather than a crime scene.

Interviewer: Lucy is a teenager now. How has she handled all the drama of the last couple of years?

Tom: She’s grown into a remarkably resilient teenager. She even survived a stint in Australia with her mother, Kate, which was a challenge for all of us!. She adores being a big sister to Harry, and she’s actually become quite close with Jack’s daughter, Ava. Seeing the two of them together makes all the risks we took to keep them safe worth it.

Interviewer: What’s next for the Douglas brothers? Are we going to see a legitimate "Douglas & Douglas" security firm?

Tom: [Smiles] We’re working on it. Jack is currently developing some very clever AI systems for crime prediction and cyber-defence. I’m going to be the one making sure we stay – mostly – within the legal lines. It’s a new chapter, focusing on family and the future rather than the tragedies of the past.