Line of Duty is returning with a highly-anticipated seventh season and fans could finally get closure on a storyline they’ve been desperate to discover.
When the popular BBC police drama came to an end with season six in 2021, viewers were left immensely dissatisfied with the identity of long sought after corrupt police officer known as H.
Unhappy with H’s identity, chatter about a potential twist is still rife with high hopes that the controversial plot will return for season seven. And now that looks to be the case.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘There was genuine anger about the way series six ended and that was part of the reason that a seventh outing was ordered.
‘But this is the first time that there’s been any news on whether they’ll bring back the “H” storyline – and devotees will be thrilled to hear Jed will be giving them just what they want.
‘Although there is still likely to be a new villain introduced into the new season, just as there has been with every series since the show was launched.
Who was H in Line of Duty?
The season six finale revealed H was the bumbling Ian Buckells, played by Nigel Boyle.
When the twist was revealed at the time, fans of the Jed Mercutio series could hardly believe Ian was the fourth bent copper (aka Fourth Man) hidden among the ranks as the show’s biggest antagonist, with several posing the reveal was a red herring.
In fact, some fans even posed Ian was simply a cover for the true H who was actually the man, the myth, the legend himself, retired Supt Ted Hastings (played by Adrian Dunbar).
Others have theorised that, if not Hastings, then perhaps it is the new top dog Chief Constable Philip Osborne (played by Owen Teale) who has been DI Steve Arnott’s (Martin Compston) nemesis since the show began.
‘But the incoming baddie’s storyline is likely to be intertwined with that of H in a sensational double-whammy.’
The new six-part season will bring us back to Anti Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12) which has been rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, and with Buckells in jail and a whole host of potential storylines ahead of us.
The plot revealed along with the new season announcement shared that when Steve and Kate Fleming are assigned their most sensitive case so far, they turn to their old superintendent, Ted, for help.
Top fan predictions for Line of Duty season seven
Metro readers shared what themes, topics and plotlines they predict the new season will delve into.
- A deep dive into toxic masculinity
- More legendary Ted Hastings one-liners
- Finally fixing the season 6 ending (looking more likely than ever!)
- Bent coppers wreaking havoc
This time they are looking into Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a senior officer accused of being a sexual predator.
But is Gough’s case all that it seems, or is there something bigger at play?
In a statement, Mercutio added: ‘Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line of Duty was off air, so I’ve been forced to use my imagination.’
The cast are staying tight-lipped on what to expect, however, with Compston telling Metro: ‘The good thing about having these massive gaps is it gives Jed time to fully form the idea.
‘I’ve just got the first three scripts, and as you’d expect, they’re brilliant, proper page turners.
‘It’s really, really exciting stuff, but I’m just looking forward to getting back with my pals.’
Line of Duty is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. There is currently no release date for season seven.
Metro has reached out to the BBC for comment.
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