Elba, who’s best known for starring as the titular detective in the BBC drama Luther, grew up in what he describes as “a tough part of East London, where violence was always a possibility.”

He knows first-hand how easily he could have fallen down a different path, so he is well-placed to present Idris Elba: A Year of Knife Crime. Over the course of the 60 minute film, he will meet young offenders, bereaved families, youth workers and the police to try and understand the reasons behind the increased incidence of knife crime.

“So many people dismiss knife crime as something that doesn’t affect them,” said Elba, “assuming it’s a black and brown urban and gang-related problem. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. White, middle class and rural areas are also affected, perpetrators are getting younger and fear is spreading.

“I hope our film goes some way towards changing these stereotypes and getting everyone to engage with one of the biggest challenges of our time. For me, it’s been a tough year – but I’m hopeful.”

The film will feature a meeting with Starmer that took place before the summer election. The Prime Minister said that, if elected, his Labour government would commit to halving knife crime.

Elba also visited King Charles with some of the young people most affected by youth violence, and the documentary will capture their discussions.

In early September, Elba helped Starmer and the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper launch the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime with their first annual knife crime summit. Doubling down, the Prime Minister pledged to halve knife crime over the next 10 years, as well as announcing some policy plans to make it harder to buy dangerous weapons.

Idris Elba: A Year of Knife Crime will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.