Line Of Duty writers buckle to fan strain because it’s revealed new sequence will reopen hunt for villain ‘H’ after backlash over season six finale

The seventh series of Line Of Duty will pick up where it left off, with the AC-12 trio trying to track down the elusive ‘H’, according to reports.  

The news will thrill fans who were left disappointed by the controversial ending of series six in 2021, when bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was unmasked as ‘H’ – the shadowy criminal mastermind behind the police corruption.

With filming set to begin in spring, creator Jed Mecurio is said to be determined to give the ‘viewers what they want’ by bringing back the storyline.

The reopening of the hunt for ‘H’ will run alongside an investigation into new character Det Insp Dominic Gough, an officer celebrated for a string of takedowns of organised crime.

The officer will be at the heart of the storyline after he is accused of abusing his position to act as a sexual predator. 

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘There was genuine anger about the way series six ended and that was part of the reason that a seventh outing was ordered.

The seventh series of Line Of Duty will pick up where it left off, with AC-12 trying to track down the elusive ‘H’ (pictured Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston) 

The news will thrill fans who were left disappointed by the controversial ending of series six in 2021, when bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was unmasked as ‘H’ 

‘But this is the first time that there’s been any news on whether they’ll bring back the ‘H’ storyline – and devotees will be thrilled to hear Jed will be giving them just what they want.

‘Although there is still likely to be a new villain introduced into the new season, just as there has been with every series since the show was launched.

‘But the incoming baddie’s storyline is likely to be intertwined with that of ‘H’ in a sensational double-whammy.’

Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment. 

The six-part series will follow the agents from AC-12 after it was disbanded and rebranded. 

Martin Compston, 41, will lead the cast as DI Steve Arnott, alongside Vicky McClure’s Kate Flemming and Adrian Dunbar’s Ted Hastings. 

Chief Constable Philip Osborne, played by Owen Teale, will also return. He remains a ‘sworn enemy’ of DI Arnott and Superintendent Ted Hastings. 

The drama has been a smash hit since it first aired in 2012, regularly drawing more than 10 million viewers.

In a statement announcing the seventh series, writer Jed said: ‘Everyone involved in Line of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show’s fans.

Chief Constable Philip Osborne, played by Owen Teale, will also return. He remains a ‘sworn enemy’ of DI Arnott and Superintendent Ted Hastings

With filming set to begin in spring, creator Jed Mecurio (pictured) is said to be determined to give the ‘viewers what they want’ by bringing back the storyline

‘We’re privileged to have had so many of you follow the ups and downs of AC-12 over six previous seasons and we couldn’t be more delighted to be returning for a seventh.’

He added: ‘Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line of Duty was off air so I’ve been forced to use my imagination.’

Martin, meanwhile, described appearing in the police drama as ‘a job of a lifetime’.

‘Not only in terms of the show’s success but the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with I now call some of my closest friends,’ he said. 

‘I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.’

Trigger Point star Vicky added: ‘It goes without saying I’m so excited Line of Duty is back! Can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!’

Martin told the Chris Evans Breakfast Show: ‘Last year we got to the point where we said, ‘All right, let’s clear the decks for next year’.

‘We chat every, like, if not every other day, like every other week, at least, we’re genuinely close pals. Jed went for a curry as soon as I got here the other night.

‘We kind of just said, ‘Look, is it getting close to that time?’ It’s sort of, we’re all getting on, you know, but, just in terms of the distance from it, we’re kind of like, ‘It’s now or never.’

‘It was getting to the point, if you leave it too long between it. I mean, it is great to leave the distance because it gives Jed time to write it and come up with a proper storyline…’

He added of the script: ‘I mean, it’s fantastic… already it’s a proper page turner.

‘You’ve got to come from a solid base rather than just commission it. But the scripts are brilliant and we’re all excited to get back.’