Line of Duty Set for Seventh Series as Martin Compston Breaks Silence on Return
The BBC has confirmed that its hit drama series, Line of Duty, is set to return for a seventh series, with star Martin Compston breaking his silence on the show’s comeback. According to a report from The Sun, the six-part series will see Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar reprise their beloved roles.
The news of the show’s return was met with excitement from fans, who had been eagerly awaiting a new series since the sixth season left them deflated in 2021. The Sun exclusively revealed that Line of Duty would be returning next year for a seventh series, and Compston has now spoken out about the rumours.
In an interview with The Sun’s TV Mag, Compston shared: “We’re always talking about possibilities and schedules and whatnot. Everybody’s got stuff going on at the minute, so I think anything, unfortunately, would be a way off.” He added that the cast still meets up and that he had recently had dinner with creator Jed Mercurio, McClure, and Dunbar in London before Christmas.
Compston emphasized that the cast would not return to the show just for the sake of it, stating: “We really care about the quality of it. So if we come back, it would be for the right reasons. If it was just about doing it for the sake of it, we’d have probably done another three series by now.” He also hinted that Mercurio has a story to tell, saying: “It’ll be because Jed thinks there’s a story to tell.”
According to a TV insider, the BBC had almost immediately requested more episodes to continue the story after the sixth season, but the success of the show meant that the cast was snapped up for other projects. However, after several meetings with Mercurio and the production team, they have finally managed to clear space in their calendars next year to commit to making the show.
The sixth series of Line of Duty drew up to 13 million viewers, but many felt that it was an anti-climax to learn that Det Supt Ian Buckells was H, the elusive mastermind with links to organised crime. Fans had wondered if it was a genuine end after nine years of nail-biting storylines or a red herring by creator Jed Mercurio.
The show’s cast has been attached to other projects, with Compston starring in supernatural thriller The Rig, McClure in bomb squad drama Trigger Point, and Dunbar in jazz singer detective show Ridley.
As reported by The Sun, the BBC is set to reopen case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer, including Line of Duty. The show’s return is set to be a major highlight for fans of the series, who have been eagerly awaiting a new series.
The Sun first revealed in 2022 that the show would return, and fans have been eagerly awaiting confirmation ever since. With the show’s return now confirmed, fans can expect a seventh series that will continue the story and provide closure for the characters.
The BBC has confirmed that filming for the seventh series will take place in January, with Compston, McClure, and Dunbar set to reprise their roles. The show’s creator, Jed Mercurio, has hinted that the new series will explore new storylines and characters, while also providing closure for the existing characters.
