Robert Carlyle has joined the cast of Line of Duty for its upcoming seventh series, playing Detective Constable Shaun Massie, a specialist rifle officer. The 65-year-old Scottish actor, known for roles in Trainspotting and The Full Monty, takes on a guest lead role in the BBC crime drama.
Newly released images show Carlyle armed and in police uniform as part of tactical operations unit 7 (TO-7). His character, Massie, is described as a veteran marksman and a "gruff loner" tasked with taking down organised crime groups. However, everything changes when his boss, DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator.
New cast members join TO-7
DI Dominic Gough is played by series newcomer Tom Weston-Jones, best known for starring in Warrior and Sanditon. The TO-7 unit also includes Laura Aikman as DC Paula Beckman, Levi Brown as DC Luke Tobin, and Amy-Leigh Hickman as DC Nira Rashid.
Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar all reprise their roles as anti-corruption unit AC-12 officers Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings respectively, in Jed Mercurio's crime thriller.
AC-12 rebranded as Inspectorate of Police Standards
The new series will follow the unit after it was disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, as the team are assigned their most sensitive case so far. Mark Bonnar returns as former Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden, while Owen Teale reprises his role as Chief Constable Philip Osborne.
Perry Fitzpatrick will return as DS Chris Lomax, along with Christina Chong as DI Nicky Rogerson. Carlyle follows in the footsteps of previous Line of Duty guest series leads including Trainspotting co-star Kelly Macdonald, Adolescence actor Stephen Graham and Westworld actress Thandiwe Newton.
Line of Duty series seven will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the new year.
