Line of Duty to return to BBC for seventh series

The hit thriller Line of Duty will be returning to the BBC for a seventh series, with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar reprising their roles.

The police drama, created by Jed Mercurio, last aired in 2021.

The series six finale was the biggest drama episode, excluding soaps, since modern records began in 2002, with 17 million viewers after 28 days.

The series averaged a massive 16 million viewers, making it the biggest drama across the market since 2018.

The new six-part series, which will be produced by World Productions in association with ITV Studios for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, will start filming in Belfast in Spring 2026.

Following the announcement of the series return, Mercurio said: “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 [Anti-Corruption Unit 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.”

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: “Line of Duty is beloved by audiences and critics alike and its amazing ratings are a true testament to the success of Jed’s writing, the work from the brilliant team at World Productions and the entire cast and crew.

“I’m so pleased that after four long years Line of Duty will be back filming soon and can’t wait for BBC viewers to be back on the edge of their seats.”

In series seven, AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, according to an official synopsis of the new episodes. Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure) and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) will be “assigned their most sensitive case so far”.

The synopsis continues: “Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, 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. But is Gough’s case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?”

Commenting on the announcement, Compston described Line of Duty as the “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.”

This story is being updated.