Adrian Dunbar confirms Line Of Duty comeback in good news for fans

Actor Adrian Dunbar could be back as Ted Hastings in a Line Of Duty comeback in 2026

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Adrian Dunbar says all the signs are “very good” and point to a new series of Line of Duty being filmed next year.

The actor won critical acclaim for his role as no nonsense anti-corruption Superintendent Ted Hastings in BBC police drama, starring alongside Martin Compston and Vicky McClure.

Asked for an update on a rumoured new series, he told Radio Times: “Myself, Martin and Vicky talk all the time, but Jed [Mercurio, the series creator], not so much, because he’s working on a project in the US at the minute. So yeah, we’re very tight, and we’ll meet up and have a curry, then the internet goes mad if we’re all seen together. There were signs that we were going to be doing something next year. We’re all waiting for the BBC to say, ‘Yeah, it’s happening’. An official confirmation is what we’re waiting on, but all the signs are very good. Jed hasn’t given us any updates – he’s beavering away, I suspect.”

Adrian's comments about the hit BBC show come as reports emerged of all the celebrities rumoured to be joining BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2025.

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The Series Six finale episode of Line of Duty consolidated with a figure of 16 million viewers in 2021. But the ending received a mixed review from fans.

DSU Ian Buckells, played by Nigel Boyle, was unmasked as the mysterious H, the corrupt police officer at the top of a criminal conspiracy.

However, fans and critics were split over the reveal with thousands taking to social media saying they felt let down and others praising the decision to avoid a more dramatic conclusion.

On X, formerly twitter, show creator Jed Mercurio responded to viewers with varying degrees of sympathy for their complaints. He told one user called Katie: “It's interesting how many of the people most critical of the finale were wanting more thrills and action. This is the problem with attempting to satisfy all viewers' expectations. It's just not possible, I'm afraid.”

Looking back at a time when Line Of Duty was one of the most popular dramas on with great twists and turns, Adrian added: “One of the shocking things that I realised after series two or three was the writer can just do away with you.

"Vicky usually gets the scripts first, and she’s a very quick reader, so she will start sending us cryptic messages that’ll really unnerve me and Martin. Like, “Oh my God, episode three – what happens to you!”

In 2024 Adrian was on stage at the Barbican Theatre singing as Fred Graham in Kiss Me Kate, which has returned to the London stage.

He is currently promoting his ITV show Ridley which is back for a new series.

The BBC has not confirmed that a seventh series of Line of Duty is coming but rumours have been circulating for months.

* The full interview with Adrian is in the new issue of Radio Times, out today.

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