After a five-year hiatus, Line of Duty is finally making its way back to our screens and, don't panic, but it’s set to be a little different to previous series. Series 7 is bringing with it a surprise cast update in the form of Robert Carlyle - and his arrival is about to seriously shake things up for AC-12 – who are, believe it or not, no longer known as AC-12. We did say it was different!
You see, AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards, and Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) are facing their most “sensitive” case so far: a police officer accused of being a sexual predator. The question is, will Robert Carlyle’s Detective Constable Shaun Massie, who reports to the accused officer, help or hinder our beloved trio? And what secrets is he hiding?
With filming set to commence imminently, here’s everything you need to know about Line of Duty series 7, including the plot, new cast and how to watch it.
What is Line of Duty about?
Created and written by Jed Mercurio, the popular police drama first aired on BBC Two in 2012 and follows AC-12, an anti-corruption unit investigating wrongdoing within the police force. The unit is led by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) are partnered up to effectively police the police.
Over the course of six series (and counting!), we’ve seen them investigate cases involving seemingly corrupt police officers, with each series focusing on a different corrupt officer (yes, there’s a lot of corruption!). The longest-running story arc has been finding out the identity of corrupt officer ‘H’ – and. at the end of series six, he was finally exposed.
What will happen in Line of Duty series 7?
The new six-part series will once again be created and written by Jed Mercurio and will pick up with AC-12 having been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards. Anticorruption work has becoming increasingly difficult, and our beloved trio of Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far. The new series will also introduce us to new character, Detective Constable Shaun Massie (played by Robert Carlyle, pictured above in Cobra), a Specialist Rifle Officer (SRO).
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The official synopsis continues: “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?”
Creator, writer and executive producer Jed Mercurio says of the new instalment: “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.”
Simon Heath, World Productions’ CEO and creative director, added: “There have been a number of significant reunions in recent years, but few more keenly anticipated than the return of AC12. It’s a privilege to be back with Jed’s terrific new chapter of the Line of Duty story.”
Who’s in the cast of Line of Duty series 7?
The confirmed cast of Line of Duty series 7 includes:
- Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty) as Detective Constable Shaun Massie
- Vicky McClure (Trigger Point) as DC Kate Fleming
- Adrian Dunbar (Ridley) as Superintendent Ted Hastings
- Martin Compston (The Revenge Club) as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott
We’re expecting more casting news to be announced soon, so watch this space for more details as we have them.
What does the new cast member, Robert Carlyle, mean for Line of Duty series 7?
We know that Robert Carlyle is joining the cast as Detective Constable Shaun Massie, a Specialist Rifle Officer (SRO), and his arrival is set to ruffle a few feathers. Shaun is a veteran marksman, operating with Tactical Operations Unit 7 (TO-7) to take down Organised Crime Groups; he’s a gruff loner and largely keeps himself to himself, until now.
When his boss, TO-7's commanding officer DI Dominic Gough, is accused of being a sexual predator, Massie's otherwise detached demeanour changes drastically. Shaun’s arrival certainly suggests it’s going to be a different – yet equally dramatic – series. And gven the BBC has suggested there might be a “bigger threat” still operating in the shadows when Gough is taken down, we're left wondering: is Shaun connected? And is Gough’s case simply a distraction for him?
On joining the Line of Duty cast, Robert Carlyle says: “Having been a huge admirer of Jed Mercurio’s work for many years, I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to join such an exceptional cast for series 7 of Line of Duty. The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show. DC Massie is an extraordinary character, and I look forward to bringing him to life.”
How can I watch Line of Duty series 7?
The BBC hasn't yet shared a release date for Line of Duty series 7, but we do know that filming is due to commence this spring, so we'd expect it to arrive on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at some point later this year or in early 2027. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll update you here. In the meantime, you can catch up on Line of Duty series 1-6 on BBC iPlayer.
What other police dramas can I watch now?
For a police drama with a side of comedy, we’d recommend Code 404. The series revolves around Detective Inspectors DI John Major (Daniel Mays) and DI Roy Carver (Stephen Graham), the latter of whom is killed on the job and brought back to life using AI. Anna Maxwell Martin is outstanding as John’s wife, Kelly. You can watch Code 404 on Sky, NOW and Prime Video now. For an oldie but a good, try Touching Evil. The drama, which follows a squad on the Organised & Serial Crime Unit, including Nicola Walker’s DI Susan Taylor, aired three brilliant series between 1997 and 1997 - and, to this day, it remains unrivalled. You can watch Touching Evil on ITVX. For more great police dramas you can watch now, check out our pick of the very best here.
