When is Line of Duty coming back?

As hit BBC drama Blue Lights comes to an end, fans will be left asking when the new series of Line of Duty starts

As Blue Lights series four reaches its dramatic conclusion on BBC One tonight, fans of gripping British police dramas have another reason to celebrate: the long wait for Line of Duty is finally coming to an end.

After years of speculation, Jed Mercurio’s hugely successful police corruption thriller is officially returning for a seventh series, with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar all reprising their iconic roles as Steve Arnott, Kate Fleming and Ted Hastings.

And if reports in The Sun are to be believed, viewers may not have quite as long to wait as they originally feared, with the new series reportedly being lined up for a launch in late January 2027.

That would make it a major event for BBC One at the start of the new year, particularly with other highly anticipated dramas, including Doctor Foster and The Traitors, also expected to feature in the post-Christmas schedules.

Exclusive: Doctor Foster 3 to launch on New Year’s Day.

For fans who have spent the past five years wondering whether they would ever see the Three Amigos back together again, the prospect of a new series is undoubtedly exciting.

Line of Duty last appeared on television in 2021, when its sixth series delivered one of the biggest drama finales in modern broadcasting history. The concluding episode attracted a staggering 17 million viewers after 28 days, excluding soaps, making it the biggest drama episode since modern records began in 2002.

The series as a whole averaged around 16 million viewers, establishing Line of Duty as the biggest drama across the market since 2018.

Those figures underline just how much of a television phenomenon the programme became, with its intricate investigations, memorable characters and seemingly endless supply of twists keeping millions of viewers hooked.

Now, the team behind the drama are preparing to take audiences back into the murky world of police corruption, although there have been some significant changes since we last saw AC-12.

What will happen in Line of Duty series 7?

The new series promises a very different working environment for the familiar trio.

AC-12, the anti-corruption unit that has been at the heart of the programme since its beginning, has been disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.

With anti-corruption investigations becoming increasingly difficult in the new climate, Steve, Kate and Ted are assigned what is described as their most sensitive case yet.

Their attention turns to Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic and seemingly successful officer who has earned considerable praise for a series of high-profile operations against organised crime.

However, behind that impressive public reputation lies a deeply disturbing accusation. Gough is suspected of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator.

It is an investigation that could have enormous consequences, particularly given the officer’s standing within the police force.

But, as viewers of Line of Duty will know all too well, things are rarely as straightforward as they initially appear.

Could the allegations against Gough be a deliberate distraction, designed to draw attention away from a much bigger threat still operating in the shadows?

That is the central mystery facing the returning team, and with Mercurio back at the writing desk, viewers can expect plenty of complicated evidence, shifting loyalties and unexpected revelations.

The change from AC-12 to the Inspectorate of Police Standards also provides an intriguing opportunity to explore how the fight against corruption has evolved, and whether the familiar investigators still have the authority and support they need to expose wrongdoing.

Jed Mercurio delighted to bring Line of Duty back

Creator, writer and executive producer Jed Mercurio has expressed his gratitude to the millions of people who have followed the series throughout its six previous seasons.

He said: “Everyone involved in Line of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show’s fans. 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 also couldn’t resist a characteristically cheeky reference to the long gap since the last series, adding: “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.”

It is a typically mischievous comment from a writer whose ability to tap into public anxieties about institutions, authority and accountability has helped make the programme such a success.

Simon Heath, chief executive and creative director of production company World Productions, is equally delighted about the reunion.

“There have been a number of significant reunions in recent years, but few more keenly anticipated than the return of AC12,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be back with Jed’s terrific new chapter of the Line of Duty story.”

BBC Drama director Lindsay Salt also welcomed the announcement, praising the show’s extraordinary ratings and the contribution of its cast and creative team.

She said: “Line of Duty is beloved by audiences and critics alike and its amazing ratings are a true testament to the success of Jed’s writing, the work from the brilliant team at World Productions and the entire cast and crew.”

She added that she was particularly pleased that, after four long years, the drama would be returning to filming soon, saying she couldn’t wait for BBC viewers to be back on the edge of their seats.

What have the Line of Duty stars said?

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the announcement is that all three central stars are just as enthusiastic about returning as the fans are about having them back.

Martin Compston, who plays Steve Arnott, described Line of Duty as the job of a lifetime, not just because of its extraordinary success but because of the friendships he has made along the way.

He said: “Line of Duty has been 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 also confirmed his excitement about stepping back into the familiar role, adding: “I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.”

Vicky McClure, who plays Kate Fleming, was equally enthusiastic about the prospect of reuniting with her colleagues.

“It goes without saying I’m so excited Line of Duty is back!” she said. “Can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!”

Adrian Dunbar, meanwhile, couldn’t resist another reference to the famous partnership between the three leads.

“As we count down the AC12 days of Christmas what a joy it is to know that the Three Amigos will be back filming together next year,” he said, adding that he was delighted with the news and looking forward to those “mercurial twists and turns”.

When will Line of Duty series 7 air on BBC One?

Although the BBC has confirmed that Line of Duty is returning, an exact transmission date has yet to be officially announced.

However, The Sun has reported that the seventh series is being lined up for a late January 2027 launch.

If that proves correct, it would represent a major start to the year for BBC One, with the return of another of British television’s most recognisable dramas likely to attract huge audiences.

Doctor Foster is also expected to return after Christmas, while The Traitors will provide another major ratings attraction.

For Line of Duty, the challenge will be to recapture the phenomenal excitement surrounding its previous run while delivering a fresh story that justifies bringing the much-loved characters back together.

There is certainly no shortage of anticipation, particularly after the divisive conclusion to series six left viewers with plenty to discuss.

Can Line of Duty recapture its magic?

The return of Line of Duty is undoubtedly one of the biggest television announcements for BBC drama fans, and the prospect of seeing Compston, McClure and Dunbar back together is enough to generate enormous excitement.

The series has always been about more than simply catching corrupt officers. Its success has come from the relationships between its central characters, the increasingly complicated investigations and Mercurio’s talent for making audiences question almost everything they think they know.

The new Inspectorate of Police Standards setting also suggests that the programme will not simply repeat the familiar AC-12 formula. There is an opportunity to explore a changed institution, a different political climate and a fresh set of threats.

And with Detective Inspector Dominic Gough at the centre of the opening investigation, the new series already has an intriguing mystery to unravel.

As Blue Lights fans prepare to say goodbye to another series of Belfast policing drama tonight, Line of Duty offers a welcome reminder that the BBC’s most compelling police stories are far from finished.

The waistcoats are coming back, the Three Amigos are reuniting and, if the reported January transmission date is correct, the countdown to the next big television obsession has already begun.

Line of Duty series 7 is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. A late January 2027 launch has been reported, although an official transmission date is still awaited.

What to read next:

Share this post with someone you think would like it…