![\"Vicky](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_80476943-2595.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe BBC confirmed production kicks off this spring (Picture: BritBox\/Steffan Hill\/AP)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe BBC confirmed production kicks off this spring (Picture: BritBox\/Steffan Hill\/AP)<\/p>\n
Line of Duty<\/a> last year confirmed that we will indeed get to see AC-12<\/a> again on the BBC<\/a>, after what has felt like an interminable hiatus.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve now started to receive casting news for the seventh season, ahead of production this spring in Belfast.\u00a0<\/p>\n We even have some plot details from the Beeb\u2019s official announcement, as well as an exciting new guest star to add to the show\u2019s tradition of roping in big names.\u00a0<\/p>\n The new six-part series will reunite the principal trio of Martin Compston<\/a>, Vicky McClure<\/a>, and Adrian Dunbar<\/a> in their copper roles, so who else will be joining them? Here\u2019s everything we know.<\/p>\n Who is in the cast of Line of Duty season 7?<\/p>\n Trainspotting star Robert Carlyle<\/a> is the big casting announcement of the show so far; he will be the guest series lead, playing Detective Constable Shaun Massie.<\/p>\n Carlyle will follow in the footsteps of previous guest stars, including Stephen Graham<\/a>, Thandiwe Newton, Daniel Mays, Keeley Hawes<\/a> and Lennie James.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t On joining the Line of Duty\u202fcast, Carlyle said in the official series announcement that he has long been a \u2018huge admirer\u2019 of show creator Jed Mercurio.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show,\u2019 Carlyle teased for fans. \u2018DC Massie is an extraordinary character and I look forward to bringing him to life.\u2019<\/p>\n We know that Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure) and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) will also be back, but will have to keep our eyes peeled for any additional casting announcements.\u00a0<\/p>\n What happened at the end of season 6?<\/p>\n The deranged and rather unpopular series six finale aired several years ago now, in 2021.<\/p>\n \t\t There are high hopes that this upcoming series will go some way to repairing that divisive end.<\/p>\n Metro\u2019s own review of the finale only awarded it three out of five stars, despite the episode holding the long-anticipated reveal of H\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n Of course, expectations are high, particularly given the long wait, but what we know about the plot for season seven already sounds promising\u2026<\/p>\n What do we know about the plot of season 7?<\/p>\n The BBC has already shared some choice details about what\u2019s to come, so we know that in this next series AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.\u00a0<\/p>\n AC-12 might be no more, but there\u2019s always going to be anticorruption work that needs doing, so the gang are assigned what has been described as their most sensitive case so far.<\/p>\n Carlyle\u2019s character comes in as a veteran marksman, operating with Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7) to take down\u202forganised crime<\/a> groups.<\/p>\n \t\t A gruff loner, he keeps himself to himself, but when his boss, TO-7\u2019s commanding officer DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator, his otherwise detached demeanour changes drastically.\u00a0<\/p>\n With that, could there be an even bigger threat at large?<\/p>\n Metro readers have been theorising what the six-parter series might hold beyond those initial details, so you can read about the possibilities they\u2019ve cracked up here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Is there a release date?<\/p>\n The release date is a bit less set in stone than the cast and plot details at present. <\/p>\n The most we know is that series seven will be coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One next year. So watch this space.<\/p>\n Line of Duty is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285813277-3209.jpg\")
\n\t\t\u2018The scripts for the series are excellent,\u2019 said Robert Carlyle (Picture: Austin G Shirley\/BBC\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"Line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_242469745-a338.jpg\")
\n\t\tAll three of the show\u2019s big dogs will be back (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Television](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_80476885-3554.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe seventh series will air sometime next year (Picture: BBC\/AP)<\/p>\n![\"Television](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_77887162-2720.jpg\")
\n\t\tAC-12 has been officially disbanded in the new six-parter (Picture: BBC\/World Productions\/Steffan Hill)<\/p>\n
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