The BBC has unveiled a batch of first-look images from the long-awaited seventh series of ‘Line of Duty‘, giving us our first proper glimpse of the returning anti-corruption trio, alongside new guest star Robert Carlyle. However, while the familiar faces are back, things have changed considerably since we last saw them, including the end of AC-12 as we know it!
After more than five years away from our screens, Martin Compston (‘The Rig’), Vicky McClure (‘Trigger Point’) and Adrian Dunbar (‘Ridley’) are finally reuniting as Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings. The new images show the trio back around an interview table, along with individual shots of the returning favourites and some of the new faces joining the investigation.
However, there’s a rather significant change to the team’s working arrangements. AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Professional Standards. Not quite as catchy a name, admittedly, but it seems the business of catching bent coppers remains very much on the agenda.
With anti-corruption work becoming increasingly difficult, the trio find themselves assigned their most sensitive case yet, and it looks like they’ll have their hands full.
Robert Carlyle as Shaun Massie (Image: World Productions/Peter Marley)
Leading the guest cast this time around is BAFTA-winning Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty), who plays Police Constable Shaun Massie, a veteran Specialist Rifle Officer working with Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7). The unit specialises in taking down Organised Crime Groups, with Massie serving as an experienced marksman.
Described as a gruff loner who generally keeps himself to himself, Massie finds his world turned upside down when his commanding officer, Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator.
Gough is played by Tom Weston-Jones (‘Warrior’, ‘Sanditon’), and is a charismatic, highly regarded officer who has earned considerable praise for his successful operations against organised crime. However, allegations that he has abused his position of trust threaten to bring everything crashing down.
Tom Weston-Jones as Dominic Gough (Image: World Productions/Peter Marley)
Of course, this being ‘Line of Duty’, things are unlikely to be quite that straightforward. Is Gough really the villain of the piece, or could the accusations be a carefully orchestrated distraction from something far more sinister lurking in the shadows?
The TO-7 team also includes Laura Aikman (‘This City Is Ours’, ‘Gavin & Stacey’) as DC Paula Beckman, Levi Brown (‘This Town’, ‘Girl Taken’) as DC Luke Tobin, and Amy Leigh Hickman (‘Ackley Bridge’, ‘You’) as DC Nira Rashid.
And it isn’t just the central trio making a comeback. Several familiar faces from previous investigations are also returning, including Mark Bonnar (‘Shetland’) as former Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden, Owen Teale (‘Game of Thrones’) as Chief Constable Philip Osborne, Perry Fitzpatrick (‘This Is England ’90’) as DS Chris Lomax, and Christina Chong (‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’) as DI Nicky Rogerson.
Osborne’s return is particularly interesting, given the lingering questions about corruption at the very top of the police force. Could the new investigation finally bring some of those unresolved issues back into focus?
Rounding out the new cast are David Calder (‘Motherland’, ‘Rivals’), Steven Elder (‘Prisoner’, ‘Toxic Town’), Dominic Mafham (‘Vigil’, ‘Killing Eve’), Aimee Powell (‘Believe Me’, ‘Art Detectives’) and Naomi Yang (‘Under Salt Marsh’, ‘Maternal’).
The six-part seventh series is once again written and created by Jed Mercurio (‘Bodyguard’, ‘Trigger Point’), who also steps behind the camera to direct episodes four to six. Jennie Darnell directs the opening three episodes.
Production comes from World Productions, the company behind ‘Bodyguard’ and ‘Vigil’, with filming having wrapped in Belfast earlier this year.
It’s been a long wait for fans of the hugely popular police thriller, and with a new identity for the anti-corruption team, a potentially explosive investigation, and a formidable guest star in Carlyle, there’s plenty to look forward to. Now we just need to find out exactly when Hastings and his team will be back on the case!
‘Line of Duty‘ Series 7 premieres in 2027 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with an exact UK premiere date yet to be announced.
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