According to one national newspaper the resounding answer to that question is ‘Yes’.
The entire front page of the infamous tabloid, not exactly noted as a paragon of truth, was devoted to its ‘exclusive’ revelation that a three part Line of Duty special will hit the nation’s TV screens in 2023. They go on to say:
“There was a very strong feeling, particularly among fans, that there was unfinished business with Line of Duty.
“The question is whether the person we were led to believe was H really is the villain that AC-12 has been hunting or if it was another nemesis.
“There’s also a theory another, darker puppet master is at work.”
There has, however, at the time of writing this article, been no confirmation from the BBC or the show’s creator, Jed Mercurio, of any substantive detail. Season six of one of the channel’s all time best dramas gripped the nation through the Spring of 2022 with its complex tales of anti-corruption cops battling organised crime gangs infiltrated by their own police colleagues.
Two months ago, one of Line of Duty’s founding stars, Adrian Dunbar, was asked by presenter Susanna Reid on ITV’s Good Morning Britain if the show would return.
The actor, who plays the character Superintendent Ted Hastings, said that he really hoped it will return, adding: “I mean everyone is kind of gunning for it, so yeah. I’m sure the public want it.“
In similar vein, Ted told the Radio Times:
“There’s no update yet on whether we can expect a seventh season.
“I think generally there’s a willingness amongst everybody to do something but I think we’re just gonna have to wait a little bit longer.
Speaking in the Christmas issue of the same magazine, Martin Compston, who played co-star Detective Inspector Steve Arnott, responded to a question about the show’s future, but offered no clue as to whether anything is coming together behind the scenes.
He said: “I’m so chuffed that people want it back. But who knows? I’d love to work with the guys again – Adrian [Dunbar], Vicky [McClure] and Jed [Mercurio] are genuinely some of my closest friends. It’s been ten years together and we speak every other day, really.”
Vicky McClure, who plays DCI Kate Fleming in Line of Duty has said on Good Morning Britain: “I speak to the lads all the time, we’d all love to, we’re all game – Martin’s in nine shows. It’s busy, I’m sure we’ll get there.”
The BBC press office declined to comment on the speculation.
In a departure from its usual output, Neil Wilby Media wrote an extensive resumé of each of the seven episodes in season six (read more here). Given how popular those articles proved, the intention would be to do the same for the new three-parter.
Page last updated Sunday 25th December, 2022 at 1050hrs
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