After six years apart, Leif GW Persson and Camilla Kvartoft were reunited when the program "Veckan" premiered the other day.
The criminologist is back on SVT with a slightly broader concept than the duo's previous success "Veckans brott", with the opportunity to take up other social issues besides crime.
Now they're taking one season at a time. There are no longer-term plans.
No, it's stupid to make such plans with 80-year-olds, says Leif GW Persson.
"Biden warning"
But even though he sees the end approaching on his TV career, Leif GW Persson is still open to a continuation.
If it goes very well, one is not so hard to persuade, he says and smiles.
In the premiere program, GW joked about it being a "Biden warning" for him – and referred to the 81-year-old US president who had to drop out of his re-election campaign due to old age.
When you get old, everything takes longer. And it can have consequences when you're on air. It's much more noticeable than in private and we're very sensitive to that.
"A damn interest"
But he's not there yet.
It's not that bad yet, and when it happens, you probably won't notice it yourself. Then it's others who notice it for you, says GW and chuckles.
Camilla Kvartoft and Leif GW Persson launched "Veckans brott" on SVT in 2010 and quickly got a million viewers. Crime and punishment were hot topics at the time. Since then, the wave of programs, books, and podcasts about crime – and so-called "true crime" – has exploded.
Leif GW Persson thinks it's become too much.
There's a damn interest in crime. I actually don't understand why, it's not that remarkable.
What's behind it?
I think it's because it's a bit thrilling and exciting. And it's completely harmless with that kind of interest. As long as you don't take part in it yourself or become a part of it and get affected.
There are those who believe that the flood of stories about crime makes people think that crime is worse in Sweden than it actually is. It's something that Leif GW Persson agrees with.
We've got a new phenomenon, and that's the gang-related shootings in marginalized suburbs, but otherwise, it's pretty calm. It's not like Sweden is going to hell.
It's important that it comes out, because politicians are going crazy. It's like they've eaten rat poison.
"Veckan" is broadcast on Wednesdays on SVT.
Will turn 80 on March 12, 2025. Criminologist who became a professor at the National Police Board in 1991.
Author since his debut in 1978 with the crime novel "Grisfesten", which was filmed as "Mannen från Mallorca" in 1983.
Has written scripts for several TV series and participated in 1990 in the cult-classic "Grabbarna på Fagerhult" with Jan Guillou and Pär Lorentzon.
Was an expert in "Efterlyst" on TV3 from 1998 to 2010, participated in "Veckans brott" on SVT from 2010 to 2018, and from 2018 to 2024 in several programs on TV4.
Father of author Malin Persson Giolito.
Has received the Kristallen honorary award, the Piratenpriset, and the King's medal in gold of the 12th size.
