Line of Duty to return for seventh series, BBC confirms

Police drama Line of Duty will return to the BBC for its seventh series; Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston are set to reprise their roles in the hit series.

The BBC has confirmed that filming for a new six-part series written by creator Jed Mercurio will begin in Belfast in the spring.

McClure said he was “so excited” for the series to return, while Dunbar added: “What a joy to know the Three Amigos will be filming together again next year.”

The last series ended in 2021 with a finale that attracted more than 17 million viewers. Speculation about a return has been rife since then, but neither Mercurio nor the BBC have confirmed this so far.

BBC has not yet announced when the new season will air.

The finale of the sixth series brought to an end the series’ long-running storyline about the hunt for the criminal mastermind known as “H”, and the BBC and the creative team behind the series said at the time that there were no plans for another series.

However, the company confirmed on Tuesday that a seventh series is currently in development.

The BBC has confirmed that series seven will begin with AC-12 being disbanded and renamed the Police Standards Inspectorate.

Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure) and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) are still working to fight corruption in the police force.

The BBC said their job “has never been more difficult, and in this challenging environment, [the trio] They were assigned to their most sensitive case yet”.

A new character, Det Insp Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer known for dismantling a string of organized crime, is accused of abusing his position to act as a sexual predator.

But the announcement suggested his plight may have been a deliberate distraction from a larger threat that still lurks in the shadows.

Mercurio said in a statement: “Everyone involved in Line of Duty is deeply grateful to the fans of the series.

“We are privileged to have had so many of you follow the ups and downs of AC-12 over the previous six seasons, and we couldn’t be happier to be back for the seventh time.”

He added: “When Line of Duty wasn’t on the air, corruption in this country needed to end, so I had to use my imagination.”

Line of Duty premiered in 2012 and became one of the most popular TV series of the last decade, attracting guest stars including Stephen Graham, Thandiwe Newton, Kelly Macdonald and Lennie James.

Compston described appearing in the police drama as his “life’s work.”

“I call some of my closest friends now, not just in terms of the success of the show, but in terms of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with.

“I can’t wait to put my vest back on and get the team back together,” he said.

McClure added: “Needless to say I’m thrilled Line of Duty is back! I can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, see you soon!”

Dunbar said: “As we count down the AC-12 days of Christmas, what a joy it is to know that the Three Amigos will be filming together again next year.

“I am delighted with the news and look forward to these volatile twists and turns.”