Line of Duty writer Jed Mercurio has dismissed reports Martin Compston has been offered a new two-series deal to play DS Steve Arnott.
With series five about to reach a gripping climax, Mercurio was said to have wanted to keep Compston on board beyond the planned sixth instalment of the hit BBC cop drama.
However, the writer/creator has angrily denied any plans are afoot for more seasons of the popular cop show.
He tweeted: "I’m not writing S6 let alone S7."
It came after The Sun reported Mercurio is keen to pen more storylines for Line of Duty with Compston in the lead role.
A source told the paper that "behind the scenes bosses are secretly trying to tie down key cast members".
They continued to say though that "everything is being kept under lock and key".
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The penultimate episode attracted 8.3million viewers last Sunday, with viewers left in suspense who the bent copper 'H', will be.
AC-12 boss Ted Hastings (played by Adrian Dunbar) is the bookies favourite, but most of the senior officers involved on Line of Duty are under suspicion.
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Compston has starred in all five series of Line of Duty since its debut on BBC2 in 2012 and has also appeared in a number of other popular TV shows, including Silent Witness and Victoria.
He has also starred as Lord Bothwell in critically acclaimed movie Mary Queen of Scots.
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