Robert Carlyle has been announced as a guest lead in the upcoming seventh series of the BBC crime drama Line of Duty. The actor, known for films such as The Full Monty and 28 Weeks Later, will play Specialist Rifle Officer Shaun Massie, a veteran marksman described as a 'gruff loner'.
Carlyle joins a list of high-profile guest leads including his Trainspotting co-star Kelly Macdonald, Stephen Graham, and Thandiwe Newton. His character will be part of the Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7), tasked with taking down organised crime groups, while his boss, DI Dominic Gough, faces allegations of being a sexual predator.
Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar will reprise their roles as the anti-corruption unit, now rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards after AC-12 was disbanded. The new series is set to air next year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Series creator Jed Mercurio expressed his excitement, calling Carlyle's casting a 'career highlight' and praising his ability to bring 'mesmerising power and depth' to roles. Carlyle said he was a 'huge admirer' of Mercurio's work and delighted to join the cast, noting that the scripts 'will absolutely maintain the quality' of the show.
