Line of Duty Returns for Season 7: Original Trio Back in Belfast for Spring 2026 Filming

The wait is over. After three long years of speculation, false starts, and contradictory whispers, the BBC has officially confirmed that Line of Duty is returning for a seventh season — and the original trio is back together. Principal photography begins this spring in Belfast, with the new six-episode run expected to air before the end of 2026. For fans who’ve spent years dissecting every twitch of a suspect’s eye and every coded phrase in AC-12’s interrogations, this isn’t just news — it’s a lifeline back to the show that redefined British television crime drama.

The Three Amigos Are Back

Martin Compston (41), Vicky McClure (42), and Adrian Dunbar (66) — the emotional core of every season since 2012 — will reprise their roles as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott, Detective Constable Kate Fleming, and Detective Superintendent Ted Hastings, respectively. Dunbar, ever the poetic one, called them "the Three Amigos" in a quiet moment of joy, a nickname that now feels like a badge of honor. "What a joy it is to know we’ll be back filming together next year," he said. And it’s true: their chemistry isn’t just good acting. It’s the glue holding the show’s moral chaos together.

For years, fans wondered if the magic could be recaptured. Compston had publicly dismissed rumors in April 2024, saying there were "no immediate plans." McClure, meanwhile, stayed silent — until now. "I’m so excited," she simply said. No grand speech. No hype. Just pure, understated enthusiasm. That’s the Line of Duty way.

From Speculation to Solid Ground

The road to this announcement was a minefield of leaks, misfires, and half-truths. In April 2025, Radio Times reported filming might start as early as January. Then, in July, Dunbar told Entertainment Weekly the show was "returning in 2026." The Sun claimed a six-episode order was locked in. But nothing was official — until Tuesday, November 18, 2025, when the BBC dropped the confirmation from Broadcasting House in London.

What’s striking isn’t just the return — it’s the patience. The BBC commissioned Series 6 just five days after Series 5 ended in 2019. But after Series 6 concluded on May 31, 2021, silence fell. No renewal. No hints. Just the occasional offhand comment from Dunbar suggesting a mini-series might be more likely than a full season. "I didn’t expect a seventh," he admitted in 2022. And yet, here we are.

Why the delay? The answer lies in one name: Jed Mercurio (58). The show’s creator, writer, and executive producer has always been the gatekeeper. "There would only be a seventh series if Mercurio had a story to tell," Compston once said. And now, apparently, he does. Dunbar hinted at it back in July 2025: "No doubt Jed will think of some interesting twists and turns. We are as much in the dark as you are." That’s the promise: not just more of the same, but something deeper, darker, and more unpredictable.

Why Belfast? Why Now?

Every season of Line of Duty has been filmed in Belfast. It’s not just a backdrop — it’s a character. The rain-slicked streets, the gray light, the claustrophobic interview rooms — all shot in Northern Ireland’s capital. The production company, World Productions Limited, has deep roots there, employing local crews and building sets that feel terrifyingly real. Each episode costs roughly £1.5 million to produce. That’s not cheap. But for a show that consistently draws over 7 million viewers per episode in the UK alone, it’s worth it.

And now, with the UK’s TV landscape shifting — streaming platforms gobbling up talent, prestige dramas chasing global audiences — Line of Duty remains a rare anchor. It’s not flashy. No car chases. No slow-mo gunfights. Just tense interrogations, bureaucratic corruption, and the slow unraveling of people who think they’re doing the right thing.

Even the supporting cast is stirring. Christina Chong (40), who played DI Nicola Rogerson in Series 6, confirmed she’d been approached about returning. Whether she’s back in full force or in a guest role remains to be seen. But the core trio? That’s non-negotiable. They’re the soul of the show.

What This Means for British TV

This isn’t just a revival. It’s a statement. In an era where so many beloved shows are rebooted with new casts, new settings, and new agendas, Line of Duty is doubling down on what made it great: continuity, character, and consequence. The BBC didn’t just greenlight a season — they honored a legacy.

Think about it: the show began in 2012, when smartphones were still novelties and binge-watching wasn’t a cultural norm. Now, in 2026, it returns as a cultural institution. It’s the show that made "Bent" a household word. The show that turned AC-12 into a symbol of institutional integrity under siege. The show that made audiences lean in — and then, after every episode, sit in stunned silence.

And it’s coming back. No fanfare. No trailers yet. Just a quiet confirmation: filming starts this spring. The story will unfold. And we’ll be watching.