The BBC's hit police drama Line of Duty is reportedly set to return for its seventh series in late January, months earlier than viewers had anticipated. The reported move would bring AC-12 back to screens around three months from now, rather than the five months fans originally expected to wait.
Earlier Release Reportedly Planned
According to reports, the series starring Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar is now expected to arrive in late January. The change would mark a departure from the show's usual springtime slot, with most previous series airing in March.
A TV insider told The Sun: “This will be welcome news for fans who have already been waiting five years for the next instalment in the story of AC-12.”
They added: “They will have been expecting this to land in late March and moving the show is a vote of confidence in the new series as January is when the Beeb likes to showcase its big dramas. Other shows, such as Sherlock, started off being broadcast in the summer, then shifted to January. It’s also when it debuted The Night Manager.”
Production and Cast Details
The insider also said: “Rumour has it that bosses have viewed early edits of the new run and are delighted with what they see.”
Filming for the new series wrapped in July, with McClure sharing photographs on Instagram celebrating the end of four months on set with her “best mates”. Compston also posted on social media at the same time, announcing that season seven was “done and dusted”.
Scots actor Robert Carlyle has joined the cast for season seven. The 65-year-old will play Detective Constable Shaun Massie, described as a “gruff loner” who usually keeps to himself.
Storyline and Background
The show's return comes five years after the conclusion of series six in 2021, which saw the long-running mystery surrounding the identity of the elusive criminal 'H' finally reach a conclusion. Detective Superintendent Ian Buckells, played by Nigel Boyle, was revealed as the corrupt officer at the centre of the investigation.
The official synopsis reveals that in series seven, AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards. It reads: “Anticorruption work has never been more difficult and in this challenging climate Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far.”
