The long will-they-won’t-they wait for news on whether we will ever see AC-12 again finally ended yesterday, when the BBC confirmed series seven is in the pipeline.
The deranged and rather unpopular series six finale aired several years ago now in 2021. Since then, the cast have been asked endlessly about whether they could be back, with all three of the main trio keen but completely in the dark.
Until now. The BBC officially confirmed Line of Duty is coming back for a new six-part series with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar all set to reprise their roles.
Season seven is set to kick off filming in Belfast in spring 2026.
The release date is a bit less set in stone at present, but we do have some plot details from that official announcement.
We know that AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards – definitely less of a ring to it.
AC-12 might be no more, but there’s always going to be anticorruption work that needs doing. In this challenging climate Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure) and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far.
A detective inspector has been accused of being a sexual predator – but could there be an even bigger threat at large?
Metro readers have been theorising what the six-parter series might hold beyond those initial details. So here’s what our free-thinking loyalists have cracked up as possibilities.
A deep dive into toxic masculinity
When we asked readers for suggestions on what could come next on Line of Duty, Greg Johnson made a compelling argument.
He noted that the show often uses ripped-from-the-headlines stories of police wrongdoing to inspire plot points.
‘In the time since the last season there has been the awful example of what happened to Sarah Everard and others,’ he wrote. ‘So perhaps they tackle as a theme misogyny and toxic masculinity in the police force this season.’
That would certainly chime with the sexual predator storyline the BBC has already shared.
More legendary Ted Hastings one-liners
This is almost a surefire prediction from Sandra Miller – more ‘meme-worthy one-liners’ from Dunbar’s Ted Hastings.
Linda Williams echoed Sandra, writing: ‘Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the little donkey will feature heavily?’
Finally fixing the season 6 ending
Some Metro readers have high hopes that this upcoming series will go some way to repairing what was a fairly unpopular end to season six.
Adam Grimwood pleaded with the team on the Jed Mercurio show: ‘They have to undo that awful ending to the last series which had kind of ruined everything for me.’
But Val Bee admitted their hopes aren’t so high, as they fear this season could once again fumble the conclusion.
Bent coppers wreaking havoc
Another given. The newly renamed AC-12 will be trying to root out corrupt bobbies on the beat, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a hard job doing it.
David Stokes predicted there would be ‘much more skulduggery and chasing bent coppers’.
June Davies also told fellow BBC viewers to keep eyes peeled throughout the episodes, as clues will likely have been laid.
‘I’ve just finished watching all of the last six series all over again,’ wrote June. ‘Despite having watched it when it was broadcast, I still managed to see various parts/clues that I missed the first time.’
Line of Duty is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.