Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the wee donkey — AC-12 are coming back! Yes, having unveiled the best-kept secret in telly — the identity of the elusive ‘H’ — at the end of Line Of Duty‘s explosive sixth series, the BBC has today confirmed one of its worst-kept secrets: that Jed Mercurio’s wildly successful crime drama is getting a Series 7. And that’s not all, either, nuh-uh. Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, and Adrian Dunbar are all back on the beat for a seventh round of pulsating policework and doing what they do best… chasing after bent coppers, natch!
Due to shoot in Belfast next year, half a decade after the last series’ record-smashing finale aired, the Mercurio penned and Jennie Darnell directed Line Of Duty Series 7 is set to see all change down at Kingsgate House. The official synopsis, shared by Deadline, reads as follows: “Series 7 starts with the iconic AC-12 division being disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards. Anticorruption work has never been more difficult. In the challenging climate, Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure) and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far. Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organized crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator. But is Gough’s case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?”
In a statement accompanying news of the show’s return, creator Mercurio said, “Everyone involved in Line of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show’s fans. We’re privileged to have had so many of you follow the ups and downs of AC-12 over six previous seasons and we couldn’t be more delighted to be returning for a seventh.”
With Deadline’s reporting confirming that more casting news will be announced in the weeks ahead, the question ahead of Line Of Duty Series 7 is less ‘Who is H?’ and more ‘Who the hell is going to be joining the show’s line-up next?’ But for the time being at least, knowing that the show is back — and Hastings, Fleming, and Arnott with it — is more than enough to have us incredibly hyped. Time to brush up on our cop jargon, once again!