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Line of Duty renewal
The BBC has officially commissioned a seventh six-part series of Jed Mercurio’s hit police drama Line of Duty.
“The BBC has officially commissioned a seventh series of Jed Mercurio’s hit police drama Line of Duty. Lead actors Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar will return; the show last aired in 2021 and its sixth-season finale drew about 17 million viewers after 28 days, the biggest non-soap drama audience in UK modern records since 2002.”
Original leads Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar are confirmed to return.
Multiple outlets report filming is due to restart in Belfast in spring 2026, though no broadcast date has yet been announced.
The show last aired in 2021, and its sixth-season finale drew massive audiences across reporting outlets.
Sources present this renewal as an official BBC commission and a high-profile revival for one of the UK’s most-watched dramas.
Series seven plot overview
Series seven’s premise is consistently reported as picking up after AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, with the core trio assigned a sensitive investigation.
Several sources name the central figure under scrutiny as Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, described as a celebrated or charismatic officer accused of using his position to sexually prey on victims.
Producers and reports warn that the Gough case may be a diversion from a larger, hidden threat.
Production credits and partnerships
Multiple sources report production credits and behind-the-scenes details for the series.
“The series is produced by World Productions (owned by ITV Studios) with Jed Mercurio and Simon Heath as executive producers; Jennie Darnell will direct and Ken Horn produce.”
Jed Mercurio returns as creator, writer and executive producer, and World Productions (part of ITV Studios) is producing the series.
Deadline and Eastern Daily Press name Jennie Darnell as director and Ken Horn as producer, with Simon Heath listed among the executive producers.
Several outlets also note support from Northern Ireland Screen and confirm the series is being made with World Productions and ITV involvement, highlighting established production partnerships.
Viewership and controversy
Reporting across outlets revisits both the audience scale and the controversy surrounding the sixth-series finale.
Several sources cite large viewership figures — averages of about 16 million per episode and peaks of roughly 17 million within 28 days — while the Manchester Evening News and others give a slightly different single-figure tally of 15.8 million for the finale.
The Daily Mail uniquely recalls the divisive reaction and notes Mercurio’s defence of the episode using audience research and Appreciation Index data.
Overall coverage agrees the show was a ratings juggernaut even when the finale provoked debate.
Cast and production reaction
Cast and creative reaction is widely reported: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar have expressed excitement about reuniting.
“Compston and McClure expressed their excitement at reuniting with the cast and crew, with Compston calling the show “a job of a lifetime” and looking forward to “getting the team back together.””
Compston called it "a job of a lifetime" in tabloid coverage, and local titles noted smaller personal lines such as Compston saying he "can't wait to pull the waistcoat on again."
Producers and BBC executives praised the series' popularity, and Jed Mercurio is quoted joking he had to "use his imagination" because public corruption was thought to have ended — a light moment picked up in feature coverage.
Several outlets reiterate that further casting will be announced and that a broadcast date remains unconfirmed.