Adrian Dunbar has said that time might be running out for his Line of Duty character Ted Hastings.
Speaking during a new interview ahead of the first episode of Line of Duty season six, Dunbar has reflected on where Hastings is as a character, and what his future might hold.
He says that quite a lot has happened to AC-12 between the end of season 5 and the start of season 6, and that a lot of things have "destabilised" at AC-12.
"There’s been quite a time jump," he says.
"In [Hastings'] working life, a lot of things have destabilised which have affected the unit. I think he’s another year older but not another year wiser. We are still on the search for the network of corrupt coppers. Are we any closer to them? Hopefully!"
Dunbar also questioned how much longer Ted Hastings has on the force.
He said: "Let’s face it – time is running out a bit for Ted; the age he is, whether he can stay in the force, is he useful enough, is he a bit of a dinosaur? He’s up against quite a bit. His personal life is not in great shape."
Asked about what Ted Hastings would be like during lockdown, Dunbar said: "I don’t think Ted would fare well during lockdown. I know a lot of people who had a decent lockdown and that’s because they got to spend more time with their families, but of course Ted is on his own.
"I think he would have really suffered as his work is everything to him and going into work in the morning, reminds him of who he is. It gives him a sense of self-worth, gives him dignity and all those things that work gives us back. More so for Ted as he isn’t going home to his wife and he doesn’t have kids. He probably would have drank a bit too much, slept in, not shaved. It would have been a big ask for Ted!"
Line of Duty Season Six begins on BBC One on March 21.
