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Line of Duty's Vicky McClure opens up about season 7

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

This article contains spoilers for Line of Duty seasons 1 to 6


Line of Duty's Vicky McClure has given fans of the BBC crime series an exciting update about the show, revealing she's "game" for season 7.

Speaking in a new interview with The Guardian, McClure was asked whether the return of AC-12 is on the cards, replying: "I don't know! I don't know, there's no word of it. I think we've all been really honest and said should that happen, we're all game."

She added that'll definitely be on board if creator Jed Mercurio and co-stars Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar are keen too.

"I'll just stick with the guys," she said. "I think when it comes to a close, it will be a natural close for us all."

Photo credit: John Phillips - Getty Images
Photo credit: John Phillips - Getty Images

Previously, it was revealed that creator Jed Mercurio has been "thinking" about a new series – although we heard he'd rather wait to make it after the pandemic so that production isn't disrupted as it was for season 6.

We can't get too excited just yet though, as BBC's controller of drama commissioning Piers Wenger said that Mercurio "hasn't committed" to writing any episodes currently.

"I would love to see both [Line of Duty and Bodyguard] return," Wenger told press at a BBC drama showcase back in the autumn. "You know, Jed is thinking but I can't really say much more than that. He hasn't committed to write either of them."

Wenger added that Mercurio would rather wait to produce a follow-up when coronavirus was no longer "a thing", because "production was particularly impacted in the making of series six".

Line of Duty star Martin Compston recently said he'd love to do one more series for a proper send-off, after Covid hindered the experience of making series 6.

'This [series] was a strange one to make, thanks to the horror show we’ve all been living through,' the star told The Guardian earlier this year. "We had a seven-month filming break, then came back under all the restrictions. The crew had to keep their distance. Masks made it harder to make a connection. The atmosphere on set wasn't the same.

"It would be tough to end it that way. So on a personal level, it would be nice to do at least one more when life was back to normal and we could have a proper send-off."

Compston reiterated his comments and admitted he'd be "gutted" if Line of Duty doesn't return for another series.

Season 6 of the hit police procedural drama concluded back in May this year, ending with AC-12's anti-corruption unit uncovering Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) as the identity of 'H' aka The Fourth Man.

The actor, who plays DI Arnott, told the Daily Star: "People want us to come back and that's amazing. But Jed will only come back and do more if he believes there is a story to tell.

Photo credit: World Productions / Steffan Hill - BBC
Photo credit: World Productions / Steffan Hill - BBC

"He won’t come back just because we're getting bigger. He wouldn’t do another series just for the sake of it. He writes everything for a reason. If I'm told the series won’t come back I would be absolutely gutted."

Meanwhile, Vicky McClure - who plays DI Kate Fleming in the drama – previously told Red that "of course course" she'd be interested in starring in series seven and is "massively invested in the show" – but it's ultimately up to Jed Mercurio.

Here's everything else we know about a possible Line of Duty season 7...

When will Line of Duty season 7 return?

There has been no official confirmation that the series will return, and there's usually a two-year gap between each series, so we may have to wait a while for any comment from the BBC.

Will there be a Line of Duty season 7?

BBC's controller of drama commissioning Piers Wenger has confirmed that creator Jed Mercurio is "thinking" about another series, so that's a positive update at least. While he hasn't officially committed to season 7, he also hasn't ruled it out.

Meanwhile back in May 2021 after season 6's finale, creator Jed Mercurio had said the possibility of season 7 was "too soon to say".

"I'd say it's too soon," the Bodyguard writer told Den of Geek. "It's too soon to draw that conclusion. It could be either of those [a series finale, or a series paving the way for a fresh new one], or it could be something different."

We know Martin Compston would be up for another series, as would co-star Adrian Dunbar, who plays Superintendent Hastings.

"We've got to do another series," Dunbar told press earlier in 2021. "We've got to get onto Jed and say, 'Look, we've got to do one that's not like when we were in lockdown. We've got to do one where we're back on the ground, we're out there, we're in the city, we’re having fun.' You know it's a great city to have fun in, Belfast, so we really want to get back to doing that again."

Line of Duty season 7: The plot

The identity of 'H' was finally uncovered by AC-12 as Ian Buckells, so a new series could start afresh with the anti-corruption unit – with Compston's DI Arnott, Vicky McClure's Di Kate Fleming, and Dunbar's Hastings returning to investigate some more bent coppers.

However, the future of AC-12 seemed uncertain in the finale with Chief Constable Osborne determined to defund it, so perhaps the trio – and Shalom Brune Franklin's ambitious new recruit Chloe Bishop – will be fighting to save it in series 7.

Line of Duty season 7: The cast

Martin Compston would be back as DI Arnott, Vicky McClure would reprise her role a DI Kate Fleming, Adrian Dunbar would be back as Ted Hastings, and Shalom Brune Franklin as Chloe Bishop.

We'd imagine Anna Maxwell Martin would return as DCS Patricia Carmichael and Kelly Macdonald's Jo Davidson could also be back. Guest stars have included Lennie James, Keeley Hawes, Daniel Mays, and Thandie Newton, so we'd love to see who could be in store for series 7.

Line of Duty season 7: Release date

Line of Duty season 7 has yet to be confirmed by the BBC so watch this space for more news about when it might be released.

Line of Duty airs on the BBC.


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