After months of speculation, the BBC has confirmed that Line of Duty will return for a seventh season — and the beloved trio of Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure, and Martin Compston are all set to reprise their iconic roles.
The record-breaking crime drama, which last aired in 2021, picks up with a major shake-up inside the anti-corruption unit. The six-episode season opens after AC-12 has been disbanded and restructured as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, leaving Steve Arnott (Compston), Kate Fleming (McClure), and Ted Hastings (Dunbar) navigating unfamiliar territory.
Their first assignment? Investigating charismatic Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, who is accused of exploiting his position to prey on vulnerable women. But the seemingly straightforward case may be a smokescreen for a much darker threat “still operating in the shadows.”
Creator and showrunner Jed Mercurio returns to write the new season, joking that he had no choice but to rely on imagination now that corruption in the UK has “supposedly come to an end” during the show’s hiatus. He expressed deep gratitude toward fans who have followed AC-12 across six seasons.
Compston celebrated the news, calling Line of Duty “the job of a lifetime” and sharing how excited he is to “pull the waistcoat on again.”
McClure echoed the sentiment, saying she’s “so excited” to reunite with Mercurio and her co-stars, adding: “Belfast, we’ll see you soon!”
Dunbar joined in with his own festive nod, saying he’s thrilled that “the Three Amigos” will be back filming next year and looking forward to Mercurio’s signature twists.
Production on Season 7 begins Spring 2026 in Belfast, with additional casting and details to be announced.
