BBC Orders Season 7 of Line of Duty, Brings Back Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar

The BBC has officially commissioned a seventh six-part series of Jed Mercurio’s hit police drama Line of Duty.

“ByShaun Linden Shaun Linden Four years after its record-breaking finale,Line of Dutyis returning to the BBC — with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar once again stepping into the roles that turned AC-12 into a national obsession”

ATV Today -

Original leads Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar are confirmed to return.

ATV Today -

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’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.

BBC

Producers and reports warn that the Gough case may be a diversion from a larger, hidden threat.

Multiple sources report production credits and behind-the-scenes details for the series.

“There's brilliant news forLine of Dutyenthusiasts as theBBChas announced the cherished drama is making a comeback for a seventh series”

Belfast Live

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.

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.

Daily Mail

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 creative reaction is widely reported: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar have expressed excitement about reuniting.

“After months of speculation, it has now been confirmed that the BBC dramaLine of Dutywill be returning for a seventh series, with the show's core cast returning”

Daily Record

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."

Daily Record

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.