Laura Aikman has confirmed she appears in the new series of Line of Duty, while also discussing her return as Rachel Duffy in This City Is Ours season two. The 40-year-old actress, known for her role in the BBC crime drama, spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview.
A Return to the BBC
Aikman revealed her next project is another of the BBC's primetime shows. She said: "I'm in the new series of Line of Duty which comes out next year, which I basically cannot say anything about without getting sued. But I'm in it."
Her comments come as This City Is Ours continues its second season. Aikman plays Rachel Duffy, who betrays her husband Bobby Duffy (Kevin Harvey) to back Jamie Phelan's (Jack McMullen) plot to change the gang's drug supplier, setting the season's drama in motion.
Praise for the Show's Success
The show, penned by Stephen Butchard, has received rave reviews for its pace and action. Aikman said: "It's so well deserved because people pour in so much time, love and effort into this show. When you're working on this show, everyone that works on it really wants it to be good and cheerleads for it, so to succeed in the way that it has has been really satisfying."
She recalled her first day on set, which involved filming in Spain in Ronnie and Elaine's garden. She said: "We didn't know each other and we had to all dance in the garden like we were really drunk to Show Me Love and scream along to the music. It was a mental way to all get to know each other."
Life in Liverpool and the Scouse Accent
Aikman, also known for her role as Sonia in Gavin & Stacey, said she and co-star Julie Graham still stay in a hotel while filming in Liverpool. She said: "When we finished work, we tend to have a debrief in the bar every single night."
She is one of few cast members who does not speak with a Scouse accent and shared her approach to the role. She said: "Surround yourself with Scousers who will tell you when you get it wrong. It is that one accent everyone goes you don't want to get that wrong so I was terrified."
This City Is Ours has been renewed for a third season. Season two continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One, with all eight episodes available on iPlayer.
