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Season six reached its conclusion last September (Buckells, really?) and the internet really, really wanted to know if it would be the last series of the show. Although we know (potentially) who the fourth man is, there's certainly appetite for a seventh series. And our favourite fictional cops might be reunited sooner rather than later, as reports have suggested that AC-12 could be back in business in late 2023.
Adrian Dunbar [Ted Hastings], Vicky McClure [Kate Fleming] and Martin Compton [Steve Arnott] are thought to be reprising their roles for a three-part explosive climax to the series, which could be broadcast as early as Christmas 2023.
A source told The Sun, 'Viewers weren't satisfied with the ending of series six and were crying out for a more sensational conclusion — now [writer] Jed [Mercurio] can deliver that. The question is whether the person we were led to believe was H really is the villain that AC-12 has been hunting or if it was another nemesis.
'The fact that they're looking at taking the unusual step of making three episodes rather than the usual six or seven is a reflection of just how special this is for the show.'
The anticipation for more has only been emphasised by the cast. Last week, both Vicky and Martin dropped some serious hints that viewers have not seen the last of them.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Vicky said, 'I speak to the lads all the time and we’d all love to, we’re all game. I think it’s just a case of now ... Martin, I think he’s in about nine shows or something. He’s busy, so I’m sure we’ll get there.'
Meanwhile, Martin gushed, 'I’m so chuffed that people want it back. But who knows? I’d love to work with the guys again. Adrian, Vicky and Jed are genuinely some of my closest friends.'
In an interview with GQ last year, Adrian Dunbar [Ted Hastings] revealed, 'I’m sure the BBC want to do another series. We do, because we want to get together again'.
Showrunner Jed had always said that he wanted two seasons notice before ending the show to he could ensure it was wrapped up properly - but he might not have had that luxury as it seems the BBC have yet to formally commission another series. 'We’re in a situation where it’s not entirely clear that there will be a seventh series,' said Mercurio as season six launched. 'We would hope there could be. But we’re having to do our planning coming out of COVID, and a whole bunch of other things, around the idea that these things aren’t guaranteed at all now.'
Why there might still be a series 7 of Line Of Duty
The characters have been left on a total cliffhanger
The show's epilogue doesn't reveal what happened next to Fleming, Arnott or Hastings, which is surely the biggest cliffhanger of them all. With AC-12 now under the control of Patricia Carmichael and Chief Constable Osborne, who are both determined to ignore any evidence of institutional corruption, it seems like there's still a lot of work for our trio to do. And with the news that Hastings is appealing his retirement, Mercurio has certainly left the door open for a re-booted series.
Because Mercurio still thinks there are AC-12 stories to tell
Talking to Jay Rayner’s Out To Lunch podcast, Mercurio said, 'In terms of immediate ambitions, I really want to carry on with Line Of Duty. I think that season six proves that there is much more ground for us still to cover.' And if Mercurio thinks there are murky dealings in the Central Police constabulary still to explore, who are we to disagree?
The show is in the perfect place for a series 7 re-boot
Even if this storyline is wrapping up, doesn’t meant the show is. In an interview with the Guardian this year, Martin Compson described series six as the wrapping up of the three season arc around the fourth man, in the same way as series 1-3 focused around the Caddy - aka DI Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan. Could season 7 simply be a reboot?