‘Not showing fear is the key’: 10 Questions for TV undercover investigator Donal MacIntyre

AN Olympic level canoeist when younger, Donal MacIntyre became a journalist best known for his undercover investigations on TV.

He infiltrated gangs, confronted warlords, and won many prizes for his exposés.

He’s been threatened many times and has had to move house regularly.

His new series, Murder Files, starts this Wednesday on CBS Reality at 10pm.

What’s the new show about?

It’s a celebration of the police officers who have successfully solved high profile crimes. They’re the people who get results.

What makes these police officers special?

They’re humble. They’re willing to say “I messed up” and then start again. They make difficult decisions without worrying about their career prospects. They always go the extra distance.

An example?

Clive Driscoll, who found Stephen Lawrence’s killers, features in the series. He gave Stephen’s parents his phone number, and whether it rang at 3pm or 3am he’d answer it. The only time he took time off from that case was a Friday afternoon when he played piano in an old folks’ home.

Have you ever fallen out with the police?

Yes. I successfully sued Kent police over comments they made on a show I did about care homes. But we have a respectful relationship.

Do you miss the adrenalin of being undercover?

No. It was a specific time, and I could only do it as a single man. ‘Daring’ for me now is taking my kids to pottery classes or watching Cartoon Network.

Did you become too well known?

I never wore disguises, and it’s difficult to stay undercover when your face is known from TV. But I had a long time doing it. I’m not going to be the ageing actor complaining I was typecast.

Surviving constant threats, did you feel invincible?

No, just eternally optimistic. I worked with drug traffickers, arms salesmen, football hooligans and war lords. Not showing fear is the key. I relished it.

And you voluntarily went in to war zones?

Yes, but I was lucky. I never saw anyone get shot or killed right beside me. It became a bit unreal, almost cartoon like.

What’s the most ridiculous situation you got in to?

To show how easy it was, I bought Semtex explosives from the Kosovo Liberation Army. As we didn’t trust the police over there, I hid it. I told the UN where it was later, and their man said: “Any reason you buried it in a mine field?”

You have 24 hours left to live. How do you spend it?

In Greenland with a crisp morning, then to Dublin for a pint in Mulligan’s bar, some canoeing down the Thames, and a meal at an Argentinian steak house. I’d end in Papua New Guinea looking at the Southern Cross star constellation.