Adrian Dunbar has promised more iconic catchphrases from Superintendent Ted Hastings when Line of Duty finally returns for its long-awaited seventh season.
The actor has played AC-12’s formidable boss since the very beginning, during which time his Ulster utterances have become a beloved character trait.
Among the most famous of the past six instalments have been “Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey”, “going like the clappers” and “now we’re sucking diesel”.
A three-minute compilation uploaded to the BBC’s YouTube channel highlights other gems, including Hastings describing his subordinates as looking like “a couple of kids who have been caught robbing an orchard”.
A niche reference, but undoubtedly evocative. See more here:
Want to see this content?
Accept and continue
Ahead of the hotly anticipated Line of Duty season 7, Dunbar assured that Hastings will retain his creative vocabulary – even revealing one of his new phrases.
During a guest appearance on BBC Radio Ulster’s Red Lines programme, he said: “I’ve got a couple coming along this time in this series.
“I say something like, ‘Come on, guys, don’t stall the digger’. ‘Don’t stall the digger’ is going to be my new one,” continued Dunbar, predicting it could be the next Ted-ism to go viral.
“There’ll be a mug for that, too.”
On the origins of his character’s distinctive turns of phrase, Dunbar shared a personal connection to at least one of them.
Want to see this content?
Accept and continue
“‘Mother of God’ was something my father used to say all the time, so I kind of stuck that in a couple of times and it worked,” he revealed.
Line of Duty season 7 reunites Dunbar with longtime co-stars Vicky McClure and Martin Compston as well as series creator Jed Mercurio, who pens the pulse-pounding scripts.
Filming concluded in Belfast earlier this year, after being briefly paused when violence broke out in the city, with the BBC eyeing a premiere date in 2027.
Trainspotting and The Full Monty star Robert Carlyle has been announced as the series’s guest lead, continuing the show’s tradition of casting a high-profile actor at the centre of each investigation.
Dunbar has spoken warmly about the return, saying the cast are happy to be back together and praising Mercurio’s script, which is rumoured to expand on the controversial ‘H’ twist.
Line of Duty season 7 is coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer. Catch up on old episodes now.
Add Line of Duty to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.