Vicky McClure is keen for Line of Duty series 7
Vicky McClure has spoken about the possibility of a seventh series of Line of Duty.
In an exclusive interview with Red, Vicky said whilst the decision is "not up to me", she would, "of course", be interested in starring in series seven and is "massively invested in the show" – just like her fellow co-stars Martin Compston (DS Steve Arnott) and Adrian Dunbar (Supt Ted Hastings).
"It’s quite overwhelming this time around, because of the effort that people put in," she told Red earlier this week. "It’s amazing to see people on social media creating nail art and cakes, and they've got their T-shirts and mugs ready to go. It’s just like we’re really lucky. That doesn’t happen on every show."
The actor, who plays DCI Kate Fleming in Line of Duty and is an ambassador for Audi UK, believes the success of the BBC drama is down to getting a "real mash-up" of different elements just right.
"I think the ingredients of LoD are quite unique," she explained. "I think it’s always been very cleverly casted and Jed [Mercurio's] writing is compelling. I think the fact the audience have to work a lot out for themselves, and they’re not spoon fed, is really a massive part of the attraction. Some of the dialogue in there is just so rich, not just from the acronyms but the one liners that we all get. I think it’s just a real mash-up of that."
Season six's acronyms have been a real talking point with fans, especially in the first episode when 'CHIS' or Covert Human Intelligence Source (a regular police informant) started trending on Twitter. Do the cast ever get confused by what they mean?
"We have to know what we’re talking about," Vicky said. "We’ll always be given the meaning behind a complicated word or an acronym, so yeah we do know. I’d be lying if I said that when you’re meant to say 'UCO' you say 'ACO', you kind of get wrapped up in your head sometimes. Me, Martin and Adie, given that we’ve been doing this for a while now, it does feel like we’re slightly more prepped for it than we ever have been. That does take the pressure off a bit."
Shooting the latest series of the hit BBC police drama in lockdown – with COVID-safe filming restrictions in place on set – was "trickier than usual", she said. But "it was very well done" with "every single member of crew looking after each other" – and she felt very fortunate to be back at work on the show she loves.
"If there was ever a job to be on in that situation it would be LoD, because we are very close; we all look after one another and there are long lived friendships there, and that really makes a difference," Vicky said.
"I think if I was on a job where it was a brand new set of people and we didn’t know each other as well, it probably would have felt harder but because we are all so close, it was nice to be with people that you genuinely care about and they care about you. I was really glad to be at work again, so many people have not been able to do that. I count my lucky stars."
The hardest part to adapt to, Vicky said, was being separated from her fiance, actor and director Jonny Owen, who was at home in Nottingham – where her family also live – while she was "bubbled" on set in Belfast for three months:
"Because I’m such a home bird, I’m always flying back and forth when we’re filming in normal times," she explained. "But when we went back to shoot, I just stayed there for the three months. That was really hard, because I’m so used to being around family. But, in the same breath, I wasn’t able to be around family, so that kind of made it easier. And FaceTime is the best invention known to man, so thank god for that!"
Having new guest lead Kelly MacDonald, who plays AC-12 boss DCI Joanna Davidson in the sixth season, on set was a highlight.
"Every year we just get incredible guest leads, and Kelly is no exception to that," Vicky explained. "She fitted in straight away, she’s so down to earth, she’s an incredible actress and I’ve seen so much of her work. It’s always weird when people come into the fold that you’re a fan of, but we had a really amazing time even though it was a really tricky time. Kelly was great, she’s got an incredible role to play, really complex and she just nails everything. And there’s loads more to come with her."
The cast had planned to show Kelly their favourite spots in Belfast – and celebrate a special joint birthday together:
"When we first started filming in Feb, I was like, 'Oh my god, you’re going to love Belfast, the food is incredible, great night life, lovely bars and we can really enjoy ourselves'. Me and Martin [Compson] have the same birthday and it was the first time that we could celebrate it together, and we had plans of having a little to-do, it was on a Friday night. It was all too good to be true, and clearly it was."
Away from Line of Duty, Vicky has been catching up on The Crown on Netflix: "I’d not watched that before and I really enjoyed it. That was good, because I knew I’d got a massive binge on my hands".
She's also recently "been loving RuPaul's Drag Race UK. It’s really good". And is planning to catch up on Bloodlands, Jed Mercurio's latest Irish Noir for the BBC which stars James Nesbitt ("I watched the first episode and then I was filming. But it was brilliant, and Jimmy Nesbitt was fantastic").
Work, though, has been a major focus for Vicky through all three national lockdowns. Not that she minds at all:
"I’m really excited because I’ve got another project starting in May called Trigger Point, which is through Jed’s production company," she said. "It’s always nice to work with people you know. Jonny and I have also got a production company, and we’ve got some projects in the works with Sky Studios.
"We worked really hard in the first lockdown to be fair, to get that all up and running so that was like the bulk of what I was doing I suppose in the first lockdown. I think what I learned about myself is that I can’t sit still! I just need to be doing, I’m a bit of a fidget!"
Lots has been made about Vicky and Jonny putting their wedding on hold due to COVID, but she says that's not the case:
"We didn’t actually have to put the wedding on hold. It’s just one of those stories that’s done the rounds. From the minute we got engaged, we had thoughts and started thinking about times and places and all that stuff, but we’ve just been too busy.
"In 2019, I remember me and Johnny saying, '2020 that’s a nice rounded year, maybe that would be a good time to get married, got a nice ring to it'. I knew I was doing Line of Duty that year anyway so thought I’d get that our of the way and start the planning, and obviously that all went to pot...We weren’t necessarily devastated because plans had gone down, it wasn’t really the case. But you know it’s a shame for anybody I guess that’s had those plans in place, but we’ll get there. The least of our worries."
If anything the last 12 months has taught Vicky to "be so bloody grateful":
"We had it all I guess, we had so much freedom and now not being able to pop to a friend’s or go to your family’s for a Sunday dinner, those simple things we took for granted. I do feel really grateful, and when things open up more I don’t think I’ll be taking the little things for granted. We just never could have predicted it, could we?
"Now I can go into my mum and dad’s garden, that will be happening. Go and see my sister and stuff. That’s kind of all I want. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited for pubs to open and to have a meal out, I mean these are going to be monumental times, but all I want is to be in a safe environment with my family. And just feel relaxed about doing it."
Vicky is an ambassador for Audi UK. You can watch Line of Duty on Sundays at 9pm on BBC1 or catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
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