Matthew Macfadyen has defended BBC One's new drama Ripper Street.
The period crime drama drew viewer complaints for its violence and sexual content, but Macfadyen - who plays Detective Inspector Edmund Reid - told The Sun that "going back to seedy Whitechapel" is part of the show's appeal.
"People are fascinated by Victorian attitudes towards sex and society," the actor suggested. "And back then in the East End there was enormous poverty.
"Actually, it was the Ripper murders that brought to light the dire poverty in the East End. They showed them up to a greater audience."
The former Spooks star went on to praise the scripts for Ripper Street, calling the series "bombastic, big and colourful, and grimy as well".
"Ripper Street is a very original thing, really - there's lots of stuff in there," he said.
Ripper Street continues this Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
