Line of Duty is officially returning for Series 7… With a twist!

After four long years, Line of Duty is officially returning for a seventh series! Since the explosive finale of Season 6 in 2021, fans have been left on tenterhooks, wondering what’s next for AC-12. Now, the BBC has confirmed the return of Jed Mercurio’s hit thriller, with Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar all set to reprise their roles.

While most of the plot details are still under wraps, AC-12 faces its most challenging case yet, and there’s a big twist: the unit has been rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, making anti-corruption work tougher and more complex than ever.

Here’s everything we know so far about Line of Duty Season 7, from the show's cast to what the stars and creators have shared about the show’s return.

Will there be a series 7 of Line of Duty?

The short answer: Yes! On the 18th December, the BBC broke the news that there's still some bent coppers to be nicked.

Creator, writer and executive producer Jed Mercurio 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."

"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," he added, tongue in cheek.

Before it was made official, Adrian Dunbar let the news slip in an interview with The Times, saying: “We’re really excited about getting our hands on a Line of Duty script, to see what happens to us. Jed [Mercurio, the show's creator] is writing. We’ve talked to the BBC. It is down to the BBC to make an announcement, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that next year we’ll be working on a new series.”

He also added: “No doubt Jed will think of some interesting twists and turns. We are as much in the dark as you are.”

Late last year, Adrian teased the series again, saying: “All the signals and everything is [positive], but until the script hits the desk, you can’t be 100 per cent sure. We’re all hoping that someone somewhere will make an announcement and say, ‘Yes, it’s happening’. And we can all take it from there. I can tell you one thing… the day they announce it, it’s going to burn up the internet.”

Although the BBC has not officially confirmed a new series yet, it’s hard to imagine it won’t be recommissioned, considering the show’s popularity, with an impressive 12.8 million viewers tuning in to watch the final episode!

Line of Duty season 7 cast

Fans can breathe a sigh of relief - the core AC-12 team is back for Series 7. The main cast includes:

Martin Compston says: “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. I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.”

Vicky McClure says: “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!”

Adrian Dunbar adds: “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. Delighted with the news and looking forward to those mercurial twists and turns.”

Does Line of Duty series 7 have a release date?

Filming for Line of Duty season 7 is set to begin in Belfast in Spring 2026.

Stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar have managed to “align their diaries,” so that production can finally move forward after years of speculation.

The new season could realistically air sometime in late 2026 or early 2027, though that’s yet to be confirmed.

What will happen in series 7 of Line of Duty?

Despite writer Jed Mercurio sharing that he knows exactly how the story will end, the cast and crew are expected to be tight-lipped about any plot details.

However, we do have an official synopsis! It reads: "In series seven AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards. Anticorruption work has never been more difficult and in this challenging climate Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far.

Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator. But is Gough’s case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?"

Now for our own predictions... While we now know who H is, there are still plenty of other scenarios that this storyline could still be explored, including whether or not the evidence of systemic corruption can be used in court.

Chief Constable Philip Osborne still continues to be in charge and with his own shady background, will AC-12 make bringing him down their next mission?

We'd love to discover if Kate Fleming returns to the team and whether Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell Martin) takes full control of the newly-merged team after Hastings' forced retirement - or if the Gaffer continues to stick around.

Who will be in the Line Of Duty series 7 cast?

Again, nothing has been confirmed when it comes to the cast either, but surely the show wouldn’t be able to go on without Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Steve Arnott (Martin Compston)?

We mustn’t however forget that Hastings is on track to retire from duty and Steve’s attempts to transfer teams may hint that their future in the unit is uncertain.

Who will be in the Line of Duty season 7 cast?

The main Line of Duty trio are expected to return for Season 7 - Vicky McClure as DI Kate Fleming, Martin Compston as DS Steve Arnott and Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings.

The Radio Times also reported that Christina Chong, who plays DI Nicola Rogerson, has been approached about returning for the new series.

While the rest of the line-up hasn’t been confirmed, fans can expect some familiar faces - and probably a few new ones - as AC-12 continues its fight against corruption.

And let’s not also forget that the AC-12 unit is under threat from the likes of Patricia Carmichael who is keen to reduce the anti-corruption team.

Another character we’d love to see return is Chloe Bishop (Shalom Brune-Franklin), who fit perfectly into the team as a new addition. We can't see Jo Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) sticking around though after entering witness protection in the last episode of series 6.

Is there a Line of Duty series 7 trailer?

As you’ve probably guessed, there isn’t an official Line of Duty Season 7 trailer yet. That said, the BBC has a fun teaser clip to enjoy, giving us a glimpse of the AC-12 trio back in action.

Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. A devoted bookworm and TV fan, she’s always immersed in the latest shows or catching the newest films and theatre productions. When she’s not writing, Arabella enjoys cooking and exploring the outdoors with her three dogs.