Line of Duty’s celebrity fans have gone into meltdown over the news that the hit BBC show is returning for series seven.
Jed Mercurio’s police drama will see the return of Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar, who reprise their roles in AC-12.
The sixth series of the police drama, which aired from March to May in 2021, was a ratings success, with its dramatic finale revealing the identity of the mysterious corrupt officer H.
On Tuesday, Mercurio said he “couldn’t be more delighted” to announce that the show is coming back for six episodes, with filming set to start in Belfast next year.
A slew of famous faces including Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness, Beverly Knight, and Stacey Dooley shared in the excitement at the news after years of rumours about a possible return to the screen.
Radio host Ball wrote in the comments of the Instagram announcement, “Now we're sucking diesel,” a phrase popularized by the character Superintendent Ted Hastings to indicate success.
Presenter Dooley commented, “SLAY,” and singer Knight wrote: “JESUS MARY AND THE WEE DONKEY! You better not be trolling us because the WAY I am losing my mind right now!!!!”
Presenter Rylan Clark shared a heart emoji and comedian McGuinness posted: “Bloody hell.”
The show’s creator, writer and executive producer Mercurio said in his announcement on Tuesday: “Everyone involved in Line Of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show’s fans.
“We’re privileged to have had so many of you follow the ups and downs of AC-12 over six previous seasons and we couldn’t be more delighted to be returning for a seventh.
“Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line Of Duty was off air so I’ve been forced to use my imagination.”
The new six-part series will start filming in Belfast in spring next year, and further casting is also to be announced in due course.
The seventh series sees AC-12, the fictional anti-corruption department, disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, the BBC said.
A synopsis adds: “Anti-corruption work has never been more difficult and in this challenging climate Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure) and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far.”
Scottish actor Compston, 41, said: “Line Of Duty has been a job of a lifetime.
“Not only in terms of the show’s success but the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with I now call some of my closest friends. I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.”
Trigger Point actress McClure, 42, said: “It goes without saying I’m so excited Line Of Duty is back!
“Can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!”
Northern Irish actor Dunbar, 67, said: “As we count down the AC-12 days of Christmas what a joy it is to know that the Three Amigos will be back filming together next year.
“Delighted with the news and looking forward to those mercurial twists and turns.”
A new character, Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, whose casting has not yet been announced and who is described as “a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime”, is “accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator”.
