Line of Duty season 7: Release date speculation, cast, plot and latest news

After what truly feels like a lifetime of waiting, the BBC has confirmed that Line of Duty is returning for season 7.

Now we're sucking diesel!

The BBC crime series, which previously ran from 2012-2021, followed AC-12's Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) as they sought to uncover corruption within the fictional Central Police – and there really was never a dull day for the trio, to put it lightly.

And now, they're back at it (we were never in any doubt) to focus on their "most sensitive" case to date.

Speaking about the return of the hit series – the season 6 finale was watched by an average of 12.8 million viewers on the night – 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.”

Mother of God, indeed.

So, what can we expect from the new episodes? Plus, who's returning and when can we tune in?

Read on for everything we know so far about Line of Duty season 7.

Line of Duty season 7 release date speculation: When will it air?

Filming will kick off in Belfast in the spring of 2026, which means it won't arrive until the end of 2026 at least.

But our money's on early 2027 – possibly New Year's Day, given that the BBC likes to begin the year with a bang.

Watch this space for updates.

Line of Duty season 7 cast: Who's returning?

Vicky McClure (Kate Fleming), Martin Compston (Steve Arnott) and Adrian Dunbar (Ted Hastings) will all be back, obviously. It simply wouldn't be Line of Duty without them.

“Line of Duty has been a job of a lifetime," said Compston of the season 7 renewal. "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.”

Similarly, McClure said in a statement: “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!”

But other returning characters have yet to be announced.

Anna Maxwell Martin could certainly return as DCS Patricia Carmichael, while Keeley Hawes has already appeared across more than one season of Line of Duty as DI Lindsay Denton.

Kelly Macdonald's Jo Davidson could also feature again, having made it out of the sixth season alive – but that seems rather unlikely, as her story ended with her in witness protection (with a girlfriend, a cottage and a golden retriever – lucky).

As for new additions, a character called Detective Inspector Dominic Gough will be introduced, but we don't yet know who's playing him – or which other guest stars we can expect to see.

But given the show's popularity, and who we've seen previously – the aforementioned Martin, Hawes and Macdonald as well as Stephen Graham, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James and Jason Watkins, to name just a few – Mercurio will surely have the pick of the bunch.

Season 7 plot: What will happen?

Corruption, duh.

In the season 7 announcement, we learned that "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," continues the synopsis.

Read more:

• So, what should we expect from Line of Duty season 7? I have some questions
• Line of Duty ending explained – how season six revealed the identity of H, and all the important details from the finale

"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?"

When will the Line of Duty season 7 trailer be available to watch?

Trailers usually arrive in the month leading up to the premiere, but without that information, it's difficult to predict when that could be.

If we were to speculate, we wouldn't expect its arrival – or at least a teaser trailer – until the end of 2026.

But the wait could be far longer.

Line of Duty seasons 1-6 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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