The acclaimed police procedural series Line of Duty is set to return for a seventh season, featuring familiar faces Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, and Adrian Dunbar. According to a recent announcement, production will begin in Belfast in the spring of 2026, marking the show’s first new episodes since its sixth season concluded in 2021.
The sixth season finale achieved remarkable success, becoming the biggest drama episode in the UK—excluding soap operas—since records began in 2002, with 17 million viewers tuning in over 28 days. The new season promises to maintain this momentum with a six-part narrative created and written by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions in partnership with ITV Studios for both BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Plot Details and Character Developments
In the upcoming season, the show’s central unit, AC-12, has been disbanded and restructured as the Inspectorate of Police Standards. As the landscape of anticorruption work evolves, characters Steve Arnott (played by Compston), Kate Fleming (played by McClure), and Ted Hastings (played by Dunbar) face unprecedented challenges in their latest investigation. They are assigned a particularly sensitive case involving Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a highly regarded officer now facing allegations of abusing his position to engage in predatory behavior.
The plot synopsis raises questions about whether Gough’s case serves as a distraction from a larger, more insidious threat lurking in the shadows. This ongoing tension promises to deliver the intricate storytelling and unexpected twists that have become hallmarks of the series.
Creators and Expectations
Mercurio expressed gratitude to the show’s dedicated fanbase, stating, “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.” He humorously noted that while the show was off air, corruption was expected to have diminished, forcing him to engage his imagination for the new storyline.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, emphasized the show’s success, stating, “Line of Duty is beloved by audiences and critics alike, and its amazing ratings are a true testament to the success of Jed’s writing.” She expressed excitement for the upcoming filming and the return of the series to BBC viewers.
Both Compston and McClure shared their enthusiasm for the project. Compston described working on the show as “a job of a lifetime,” while McClure looked forward to reuniting with the cast in Belfast. Dunbar expressed joy at the prospect of returning to work together, referring to the trio as the “Three Amigos.”
With the support of Northern Ireland Screen, the production team expects to deliver another gripping season that continues to captivate audiences. The first six seasons of Line of Duty are currently available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, allowing newcomers and longtime fans alike to prepare for the thrilling return of this iconic series.
