Line of Duty writer reveals only ten people know the identity of baddie H

Only TEN people know the identity of Line of Duty’s arch-baddie H, according to the show’s writer Jed Mercurio.

Speculation over whether or not Ted Hastings could be the head of the giant network of corrupt officers and balaclava-clad criminals, reached fever pitch after Sunday's episode.

Now Mercurio admits that he can’t wait until everyone knows and it’s finally out in the open.

The show creator revealed: “You will be reassured to know that I do actually know who H is and very few of us do.

“The number of people who genuinely know right now is probably less than a dozen and I’m looking forward to the day when it can be measured in millions. It’s something that takes us in interesting places.”

Mercurio, who also created Bodyguard, has painstakingly plotted the H storyline since series one and deliberately used names that could be turned into H, creating a series of red herrings in the show.

Mercurio painstakingly plotted the H storyline and used names that could be turned into H (BBC)

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But this weekend he gave his biggest hint yet that Superintendent Ted Hastings, who is the head of anti-corruption unit AC-12, isn’t a bent copper – contrary to all the clues in the current series.

Mercurio said the audience are meant to stay behind the character because he “believes in doing the right thing” and isn’t a “baddie”.

He explained: “I think I do write characters that have certain characteristics and one of them is the characters that we are meant to get behind, Ted and all the AC-12 characters who aren’t baddies. The characters who believe in doing the right thing. They also believe in facts and evidence.”

Many fans of the show have become increasingly worried that Ted, played by Adrian Dunbar, could turn out to be the mystery H.

There have been many clues pointing to Ted being be the master villain (BBC/World Productions)

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There have been many clues pointing to him being be the master villain, including the misspelling of “definitely”in the computer messages - just like the corrupt OCG cop - as well as him receiving a wad of cash despite having money problems and living in a hotel.

But actor Adrian, 60, has already admitted he’d be disappointed if his character turns out to be a villain. “It's up to Jed Mercurio,” he said.

“But it would be very strange at this point, I think, for Ted to turn out to be a baddie.”