Line of Duty is officially returning to BBC One for a long-awaited seventh series, with a brand‑new six‑part story that reunites AC‑12 stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar as filming begins in Belfast in spring 2026. The new series finds the anti‑corruption unit restructured and under pressure as the team tackles their most sensitive and politically charged case yet.
What has the BBC confirmed?
The BBC has confirmed that Line of Duty will return for a seventh series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, ending years of speculation after the 2021 finale. The new run will consist of six hour‑long episodes written by creator Jed Mercurio and produced once again by World Productions.
Filming is scheduled to begin in Belfast in spring 2026, keeping the show anchored in the city that has doubled as the unnamed UK setting since the early series. The series will air on BBC One, with an expected prime‑time slot and immediate availability on BBC iPlayer, though a precise broadcast date has not yet been announced.
Who is returning to Line of Duty?
The iconic AC‑12 trio all return: Martin Compston reprises his role as DI Steve Arnott, Vicky McClure is back as DI (formerly DS) Kate Fleming, and Adrian Dunbar once again plays Superintendent Ted Hastings. These three have been central to the show’s success, and their reunion confirms that the new series will stay rooted in AC‑12’s world of anti‑corruption investigations.
Additional casting, including the actor who will play the new key character, DI Dominic Gough, will be announced closer to or during filming. As with past series, viewers can expect high‑profile guest stars to join the line‑up, continuing the tradition of Stephen Graham, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James and Anna Maxwell Martin taking major roles.
What is the new story about?
Series 7 takes place after a major shake‑up: AC‑12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, reflecting a political drive to rein in high‑profile anti‑corruption work. In this new climate, corruption is harder to expose, oversight is more restricted, and public trust in internal investigations is more fragile than ever.
Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings are assigned their most sensitive case so far, centring on Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer applauded for dramatic takedowns of organised crime. Gough is accused of abusing his position to act as a sexual predator, but the official synopsis suggests that this might be a smokescreen hiding a deeper threat operating in the shadows.
Why is the return such a big deal?
Line of Duty is one of the BBC’s most successful dramas, with the series six finale in 2021 attracting around 17 million viewers across its first 28 days, making it the most‑watched non‑soap drama episode in the UK since modern records began. The show has become a cultural touchstone, known for its dense plotting, acronyms, interrogation set‑pieces and catchphrases like Ted Hastings’s “Mother of God”.
The season six finale divided audiences with its reveal of “H”, with many fans feeling the story of institutional corruption was not fully resolved. The new series gives Mercurio and the cast a chance to revisit those themes, explore the consequences of that ending and potentially answer lingering questions about how deep the rot in the force really goes.
What have the creator and cast said?
Jed Mercurio has expressed gratitude to the show’s fanbase, saying that everyone involved feels privileged to return after six previous series that charted the rise and exposure of corrupt officers across the force. He has also jokingly suggested that, since corruption was supposedly “fixed” while the show was off air, he has had to use his imagination to devise new threats, underlining that the story will once again dig into systemic issues rather than just “bad apples”.
Martin Compston has described Line of Duty as the job of a lifetime and said he cannot wait to put on Steve Arnott’s trademark waistcoat again and reunite with the rest of AC‑12. Vicky McClure has spoken of her excitement at returning as Kate Fleming, while Adrian Dunbar has celebrated the news that the “Three Amigos” will be back filming together, after years of hinting that a new series might be on the cards.
When could Line of Duty series 7 be released?
With filming set for spring 2026 in Belfast, the most likely UK broadcast window is late 2026 or early 2027, depending on post‑production and the BBC’s scheduling strategy. The BBC has not yet committed to a specific release date or month, but the confirmation of production timing makes it clear that fans will see AC‑12 back on screen within the next couple of years.
Internationally, Line of Duty is expected to continue through existing distribution partners and streaming platforms, meaning viewers outside the UK should also gain access to series 7, though roll‑out dates will vary by territory. As with previous seasons, catch‑up and box‑set access via BBC iPlayer will keep all six earlier series available, giving new and returning viewers time to revisit the saga of “bent coppers” before the seventh series lands.